Neuroscientist Andrew Huberman addressed the phenomenon of “looksmaxing” during a recent appearance on The Best Podcast Network, explaining the risks young people face when pursuing physical enhancement through peptides and hormones.
The Stanford neuroscientist expressed deep concern about the trend, particularly among younger demographics. “I just think the whole looks maxing phenomenon is really, really dangerous and foolish, especially in people younger than 40,” Huberman stated during the discussion.
His primary warning centered on the use of PEDs before the body has fully matured.
“If you’re augmenting growth hormone in your teens, your 20s, you can really mess up your hypothalamic pituitary body axis, all the organs of your body in major ways,” he explained.
The consequences can be severe: “You shut down fertility, if you come off these things you may revert to a state you know a depression, etc.”
Huberman emphasized that natural development takes time and shouldn’t be rushed.
“You need to evaluate kind of where you are at the very end of puberty. Puberty is a very protracted thing,” he noted, sharing his own experience: “I didn’t shave till I was 20. I swear my head and face change shape, you know, over time. People develop over a long period of time.”
The podcaster also highlighted a fundamental tradeoff that many young people overlook when considering peptides or growth hormone.
“There’s always a dynamic tension between the things that give you vitality and the things that extend your life,” he explained. “If you take growth hormone, you’ll feel more vital. You’ll gain muscle more easily, recover from injury more easily. You’ll lose visceral and body fat. Guess what? You’ll also age more quickly.”
Huberman offered a pointed critique of social media’s role in driving this behavior: “If you’re a guy taking pictures of your abs and posting it online, like you need to invest the money in a psychologist, not in a peptide.” He suggested this reflects a generational shift driven by phones and constant self-documentation.
He added that he’s “more impressed by what people can do with their physicality trying to hit it some numbers, some lifts, some running, some hiking, some rucking.”
The podcast hosts agreed, saying that rather than pharma shortcuts, they can looksmax naturally.
Host Jordi Hays says, “There’s a way to looks max without hitting your face with a hammer.”
Co-host John Coogan agrees and says, “Sleep, diet, exercise. You’re 99% of the way there.”
Huberman’s warning has become even more relevant as influencers within the looksmaxxing community openly share ex treme protocols with massive online audiences.
Popular looksmaxxer influencer Clavicular recently laid out his daily stack in detail, casually describing a regimen that includes hormones, peptides, and prescription d**gs.
“Right now I’m on a very low dose of tests. I’m on around like 220 milligrams,” he said.
But that was only the beginning. According to Clavicular, his routine also includes 25 milligrams of Accutane for skin management, 12 milligrams of retatrutide, and 10 milligrams of nebivolol, a beta blocker.
“Peptides are great,” Clavicular added, pointing to retatrutide as one of the most popular sub stances in the space right now. “It’s a very similar d**g to Ozempic. They’re the same class.”
His stack extends even further into cosmetic enhancement. He also takes Melanotan 2, which he claims helps speed up tanning dramatically.
“Melanotan 2 agonizes something called your melanocortin receptors… and that basically induces melanogenesis,” he explained, adding that it allows him to “tan about a hundred times quicker.”
Clavicular’s personal story also reflects the long-term consequences Huberman warned about. During a recent livestream with SNEAKO, the 19-year-old revealed that he is infertile as he began testosterone replacement therapy very early.
“I was on a little bit of everything to be honest growing up. Test at 14 was like one of the first,” he admitted.
When asked how he accessed testosterone at such a young age, Clavicular responded bluntly: “I just ordered it on the internet.”
The conversation turned even more alarming when fertility was brought up.
“Right now, I am infertile… I’m not able to have a kid right now,” Clavicular said matter-of-factly.
He explained the biological mechanism behind it: “So it’s just like a negative feedback loop when you’re not needing to produce testosterone anymore.”
When SNEAKO asked if he was producing any testosterone naturally, Clavicular confirmed: “No. None.”
