No Cover Image

Journal article 132 views 9 downloads

GLP-1 weight-loss medicine and Retatrutide use for anabolic effects among online weight trainers: cultural understandings of risk

Luke Cox Orcid Logo, Luke A. Turnock, Kim Akrigg, Timothy Piatkowski

Addiction Research & Theory, Pages: 1 - 12

Swansea University Author: Luke Cox Orcid Logo

  • 71868.VOR.pdf

    PDF | Version of Record

    © 2026 The Author(s). This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives License.

    Download (1.08MB)

Check full text

DOI (Published version): 10.1080/16066359.2026.2671771

Abstract

Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1s) have rapidly transitioned from treatments for type 2 diabetes to widely used weight-loss medications. While compounds such as Semaglutide and Tirzepatide are clinically approved, the experimental triple-agonist Retatrutide has begun circulating thro...

Full description

Published in: Addiction Research & Theory
ISSN: 1606-6359 1476-7392
Published: Informa UK Limited 2026
Online Access: Check full text

URI: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa71868
first_indexed 2026-05-08T09:52:18Z
last_indexed 2026-06-19T05:50:05Z
id cronfa71868
recordtype SURis
fullrecord <?xml version="1.0"?><rfc1807><datestamp>2026-06-18T12:24:17.4127491</datestamp><bib-version>v2</bib-version><id>71868</id><entry>2026-05-08</entry><title>GLP-1 weight-loss medicine and Retatrutide use for anabolic effects among online weight trainers: cultural understandings of risk</title><swanseaauthors><author><sid>9811ac84cad867903c385bf7086dfd2d</sid><ORCID>0000-0001-7625-4603</ORCID><firstname>Luke</firstname><surname>Cox</surname><name>Luke Cox</name><active>true</active><ethesisStudent>false</ethesisStudent></author></swanseaauthors><date>2026-05-08</date><deptcode>EAAS</deptcode><abstract>Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1s) have rapidly transitioned from treatments for type 2 diabetes to widely used weight-loss medications. While compounds such as Semaglutide and Tirzepatide are clinically approved, the experimental triple-agonist Retatrutide has begun circulating through illicit online markets. Despite growing clinical research on their metabolic effects, little is known about how these substances are being incorporated into bodybuilding cultures. This study explores how GLP-1s, particularly Retatrutide, are discussed within online weight-training communities and how they are positioned relative to non-medical insulin use. Two netnographies of publicly accessible forums were conducted, analyzing 1,774 Reddit posts on Retatrutide and 12,392 posts from two major bodybuilding forums. Reflexive thematic analysis revealed that GLP-1s are framed as tools for improving insulin sensitivity, nutrient partitioning, and lean mass accrual, often promoted as a &#x2018;safer&#x2019; alternative to insulin. These findings highlight risks related to unapproved compounds, misinformation, and polysubstance use within online enhancement communities.</abstract><type>Journal Article</type><journal>Addiction Research &amp;amp; Theory</journal><volume>0</volume><journalNumber/><paginationStart>1</paginationStart><paginationEnd>12</paginationEnd><publisher>Informa UK Limited</publisher><placeOfPublication/><isbnPrint/><isbnElectronic/><issnPrint>1606-6359</issnPrint><issnElectronic>1476-7392</issnElectronic><keywords>GLP-1, Retatrutide, insulin, risk, netnography</keywords><publishedDay>19</publishedDay><publishedMonth>5</publishedMonth><publishedYear>2026</publishedYear><publishedDate>2026-05-19</publishedDate><doi>10.1080/16066359.2026.2671771</doi><url/><notes/><college>COLLEGE NANME</college><department>Engineering and Applied Sciences School</department><CollegeCode>COLLEGE CODE</CollegeCode><DepartmentCode>EAAS</DepartmentCode><institution>Swansea University</institution><apcterm>SU Library paid the OA fee (TA Institutional Deal)</apcterm><funders>This work was funded by the National Health and Medical Research Centre Investigator Grant, 2041822.</funders><projectreference/><lastEdited>2026-06-18T12:24:17.4127491</lastEdited><Created>2026-05-08T10:49:56.3577262</Created><path><level id="1">Faculty of Science and Engineering</level><level id="2">School of Engineering and Applied Sciences - Sport and Exercise Sciences</level></path><authors><author><firstname>Luke</firstname><surname>Cox</surname><orcid>0000-0001-7625-4603</orcid><order>1</order></author><author><firstname>Luke A.</firstname><surname>Turnock</surname><order>2</order></author><author><firstname>Kim</firstname><surname>Akrigg</surname><order>3</order></author><author><firstname>Timothy</firstname><surname>Piatkowski</surname><order>4</order></author></authors><documents><document><filename>71868__36940__0d722c2c46fc49cd9dfafa74e21ef47f.pdf</filename><originalFilename>71868.VOR.pdf</originalFilename><uploaded>2026-06-11T13:39:30.2766444</uploaded><type>Output</type><contentLength>1136200</contentLength><contentType>application/pdf</contentType><version>Version of Record</version><cronfaStatus>true</cronfaStatus><documentNotes>&#xA9; 2026 The Author(s). This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives License.</documentNotes><copyrightCorrect>true</copyrightCorrect><language>eng</language><licence>http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/</licence></document></documents><OutputDurs/></rfc1807>
spelling 2026-06-18T12:24:17.4127491 v2 71868 2026-05-08 GLP-1 weight-loss medicine and Retatrutide use for anabolic effects among online weight trainers: cultural understandings of risk 9811ac84cad867903c385bf7086dfd2d 0000-0001-7625-4603 Luke Cox Luke Cox true false 2026-05-08 EAAS Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1s) have rapidly transitioned from treatments for type 2 diabetes to widely used weight-loss medications. While compounds such as Semaglutide and Tirzepatide are clinically approved, the experimental triple-agonist Retatrutide has begun circulating through illicit online markets. Despite growing clinical research on their metabolic effects, little is known about how these substances are being incorporated into bodybuilding cultures. This study explores how GLP-1s, particularly Retatrutide, are discussed within online weight-training communities and how they are positioned relative to non-medical insulin use. Two netnographies of publicly accessible forums were conducted, analyzing 1,774 Reddit posts on Retatrutide and 12,392 posts from two major bodybuilding forums. Reflexive thematic analysis revealed that GLP-1s are framed as tools for improving insulin sensitivity, nutrient partitioning, and lean mass accrual, often promoted as a ‘safer’ alternative to insulin. These findings highlight risks related to unapproved compounds, misinformation, and polysubstance use within online enhancement communities. Journal Article Addiction Research &amp; Theory 0 1 12 Informa UK Limited 1606-6359 1476-7392 GLP-1, Retatrutide, insulin, risk, netnography 19 5 2026 2026-05-19 10.1080/16066359.2026.2671771 COLLEGE NANME Engineering and Applied Sciences School COLLEGE CODE EAAS Swansea University SU Library paid the OA fee (TA Institutional Deal) This work was funded by the National Health and Medical Research Centre Investigator Grant, 2041822. 2026-06-18T12:24:17.4127491 2026-05-08T10:49:56.3577262 Faculty of Science and Engineering School of Engineering and Applied Sciences - Sport and Exercise Sciences Luke Cox 0000-0001-7625-4603 1 Luke A. Turnock 2 Kim Akrigg 3 Timothy Piatkowski 4 71868__36940__0d722c2c46fc49cd9dfafa74e21ef47f.pdf 71868.VOR.pdf 2026-06-11T13:39:30.2766444 Output 1136200 application/pdf Version of Record true © 2026 The Author(s). This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives License. true eng http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/
title GLP-1 weight-loss medicine and Retatrutide use for anabolic effects among online weight trainers: cultural understandings of risk
spellingShingle GLP-1 weight-loss medicine and Retatrutide use for anabolic effects among online weight trainers: cultural understandings of risk
Luke Cox
title_short GLP-1 weight-loss medicine and Retatrutide use for anabolic effects among online weight trainers: cultural understandings of risk
title_full GLP-1 weight-loss medicine and Retatrutide use for anabolic effects among online weight trainers: cultural understandings of risk
title_fullStr GLP-1 weight-loss medicine and Retatrutide use for anabolic effects among online weight trainers: cultural understandings of risk
title_full_unstemmed GLP-1 weight-loss medicine and Retatrutide use for anabolic effects among online weight trainers: cultural understandings of risk
title_sort GLP-1 weight-loss medicine and Retatrutide use for anabolic effects among online weight trainers: cultural understandings of risk
author_id_str_mv 9811ac84cad867903c385bf7086dfd2d
author_id_fullname_str_mv 9811ac84cad867903c385bf7086dfd2d_***_Luke Cox
author Luke Cox
author2 Luke Cox
Luke A. Turnock
Kim Akrigg
Timothy Piatkowski
format Journal article
container_title Addiction Research &amp; Theory
container_volume 0
container_start_page 1
publishDate 2026
institution Swansea University
issn 1606-6359
1476-7392
doi_str_mv 10.1080/16066359.2026.2671771
publisher Informa UK Limited
college_str Faculty of Science and Engineering
hierarchytype
hierarchy_top_id facultyofscienceandengineering
hierarchy_top_title Faculty of Science and Engineering
hierarchy_parent_id facultyofscienceandengineering
hierarchy_parent_title Faculty of Science and Engineering
department_str School of Engineering and Applied Sciences - Sport and Exercise Sciences{{{_:::_}}}Faculty of Science and Engineering{{{_:::_}}}School of Engineering and Applied Sciences - Sport and Exercise Sciences
document_store_str 1
active_str 0
description Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1s) have rapidly transitioned from treatments for type 2 diabetes to widely used weight-loss medications. While compounds such as Semaglutide and Tirzepatide are clinically approved, the experimental triple-agonist Retatrutide has begun circulating through illicit online markets. Despite growing clinical research on their metabolic effects, little is known about how these substances are being incorporated into bodybuilding cultures. This study explores how GLP-1s, particularly Retatrutide, are discussed within online weight-training communities and how they are positioned relative to non-medical insulin use. Two netnographies of publicly accessible forums were conducted, analyzing 1,774 Reddit posts on Retatrutide and 12,392 posts from two major bodybuilding forums. Reflexive thematic analysis revealed that GLP-1s are framed as tools for improving insulin sensitivity, nutrient partitioning, and lean mass accrual, often promoted as a ‘safer’ alternative to insulin. These findings highlight risks related to unapproved compounds, misinformation, and polysubstance use within online enhancement communities.
published_date 2026-05-19T06:02:19Z
_version_ 1868490855373864960
score 11.109323

Similar Items