Alex Ossola

Hey, What's News listeners.

It's Sunday, May 31st.

I'm Alex Ocele for The Wall Street Journal.

This is What's News Sunday, the show where we tackle the big questions about the biggest stories in the news.

On the show this week, we're talking about peptides, the drugs that have taken social media by storm for people who say they help them look and feel better.

But taking the drugs comes with more risks than some users may have bargained for.

Peptides are having a moment.

If you spent time online, you've probably seen posts from users who say the drugs can do everything from improve their skin to helping them get better sleep to simply just feeling good in their bodies.

But it's not just influencers who are into peptides.

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

has also touted their use and vowed to make them more accessible.

Here he is on Joe Rogan's podcast earlier this year.

Even the DJ and record producer Diplo was talking about them on stage at the WSJ's Future of Everything Festival earlier this month.

But here's the thing.

Many of the uses that people say peptides are great for are not scientifically proven and may come with side effects or dangers we don't know about.

What's more, users are increasingly finding the drugs on the gray market, which presents its own set of risks.

I discussed all this with Sarah O'Brien, who covers the business and culture of wellness for the journal.

Sarah, I want to start with the kind of like bare bones definition of what a peptide is.

Like if I were in high school biology class, what would I learn about what a peptide is?

So when someone on social media is talking about all their peptides and their peptide stack, do they mean something different?