The renewed obsession with living longer

Summary of The renewed obsession with living longer

by ABC Australia

16m•July 19, 2026
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Overview of The renewed obsession with living longer

This episode of ABC News Daily explores the booming longevity industry and the growing cultural fixation on extending life, especially through peptides, supplements, biohacking, and anti-ageing clinics. Host Sam Hawley speaks with Dr Norman Swan, who investigated the industry for Four Corners, about what the science actually says, how businesses are marketing “healthspan” solutions, and why regulators are struggling to keep up.

The big takeaway: there may be real promise in longevity research, but much of what is being sold right now is poorly evidenced, loosely regulated, and potentially risky.

Main Topics Discussed

The new longevity boom

  • Interest in living longer has exploded globally, from Silicon Valley to Australia.
  • The industry now focuses less on “living forever” and more on extending healthy life — or “healthspan.”
  • Dr Swan notes that most people don’t actually want to live to 150; they want to stay healthy for as long as possible.

What the science is actually aiming at

  • The most serious scientific approach discussed is geroscience:
    • the idea that ageing itself is a root cause of many diseases.
    • if ageing pathways can be targeted, it may help prevent or slow multiple illnesses at once.
  • This is different from the fantasy of a single pill that makes someone young again.
  • Swan points to GLP-1 drugs as a model of how a treatment can start with one condition and then expand to others, making it commercially attractive.

Australia’s peptide and anti-ageing market

  • The episode highlights the rapid growth of longevity clinics in Australia, including:
    • telehealth consultations
    • IV drip bars
    • supplement and peptide sales
  • Peptides are described as short chains of amino acids, and some are legitimate medicines.
  • But many of the peptides being marketed for anti-ageing are unapproved, unproven in humans, and easy to obtain.

Key Findings From the Investigation

Black-market peptides are unreliable and potentially dangerous

  • ABC researchers sent in mail-order peptides for lab testing.
  • Results showed:
    • one sample contained only 40% of the claimed dose
    • another had 70%
    • a third contained no peptide at all
  • Some samples contained free copper, apparently used to make the product appear blue and more appealing.
  • Swan warns that people may be injecting toxic substances without knowing it.

One clinic prescribed multiple peptides easily

  • A reporter, Rachel Carbonell, booked a telehealth “peptide therapy consultation.”
  • She received a prescription for four peptides and would have had to pay nearly $1,200 to fill it.
  • The clinic required her to sign consent acknowledging possible prescription of unapproved goods.
  • An independent expert, Professor Catherine Samaras, raised concerns about:
    • weak documentation
    • possible growth hormone-like side effects
    • fluid retention
    • worsening osteoarthritis
    • disrupted glucose metabolism
    • increased diabetes risk
    • possible cancer concerns

Regulatory Concerns

The TGA says the system has gaps

  • The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) is focused on:
    • illegal advertising
    • illegal importation
    • illegal supply of unapproved products
  • But the TGA does not regulate clinician behaviour.

A gap between regulators

  • Prescribing by doctors, nurses, and pharmacists falls under a different body: AHPRA.
  • The episode suggests this creates a regulatory grey zone where some longevity businesses can operate aggressively.
  • AHPRA said some practitioners may be exploiting health trends by putting profits ahead of patients, and that it is taking some action.

Why People Are Drawn to It

  • Swan argues the appeal is mostly psychological and practical:
    • people want the easy way out
    • health advice based on evidence is often more complicated and uncertain
    • alternative/complementary explanations can sound more appealing because they offer certainty
  • The problem is that, for now, there is no easy shortcut to ageing well.

What Actually Works

The boring basics still win

  • Swan and Professor Luigi Fontana point to the strongest evidence being:
    • exercise
    • calorie control
    • nutrient-rich diet
    • Mediterranean-style eating
  • These habits may address ageing at its roots better than the expensive clinic model.
  • In other words: the proven path to longevity is still mostly lifestyle, not lotions or pills.

Notable Takeaways

  • Longevity research is real, but the commercial market around it is often ahead of the evidence.
  • Peptides are the current wellness trend, but many products are unregulated or mislabeled.
  • Consumers are being sold certainty, even when the science is incomplete.
  • The most effective anti-ageing strategy remains unflashy but evidence-based: move more, eat well, and maintain overall health.

Bottom Line

This episode is a cautionary look at the modern longevity craze: promising science exists, but the current marketplace around anti-ageing is full of hype, weak evidence, and regulatory loopholes. The message from Dr Norman Swan is clear — healthy ageing is worth pursuing, but the safest path is still the least glamorous one.