Dangerous weight-loss "peptides" online: Expert warns of risk of infection and death

The emergence of online "panaceas" for rapid weight loss in the form of peptides is raising serious concerns within the medical community. Prof. Georgi Momekov, Dean of the Faculty of Pharmacy at the Medical University – Sofia, questions the safety of these products, which are often sold without control over the internet.

According to the expert, the main problem is the lack of pharmaceutical control. Unlike legal medication, which undergoes strict clinical trials and guaranteed sterility, these online products may contain undeclared substances, bacteria, pathogenic fungi, or even viruses. "Sterile forms are among the most difficult to produce and control. They must be stable, pure, and pyrogen-free," emphasizes Prof. Momekov.

One of the greatest risks is the improper storage and preparation of these substances. Peptides are complex molecules whose structure (3D shape) is critical to their function. If they are stored at the wrong temperature or dissolved in an inappropriate solvent by unqualified persons, the risk of severe complications is enormous. The professor notes that on a global scale, even fatal cases have already been registered related to the use of similar substances purchased online.

Prof. Momekov also criticizes the business model, which is based on the "relationship between a fool and a fraudster," supported by influencers. He urges people struggling with overweight not to succumb to quick and dangerous solutions, but to seek professional help from endocrinologists and nutritionists in specialized centers and university hospitals.

"Overweight requires a multimodal approach, not the injection of unknown substances where no one knows what they contain," the specialist concluded.