The truth about hair loss on GLP-1s

Hi {{first_name}} -

A few months ago, I sat across from a dear friend at brunch who was crying because of how much hair she lost due to GLP-1. She went to a hair specialist for help, and that person said, “It was probably the GLP1”.

My friend had already struggled with a LOT of shame about being on the medication (she only told me because of what I do, but no one else knows), and she couldn’t handle the fact that the hair loss could have been caused by that. She felt judged and devastated.

I told her gently, “This really isn’t uncommon… usually it comes back. I think your hair looks great today.”

But in all honesty, I don’t have a solution for this side effect. For a long time, the explanation for hair loss on GLP-1 medications was pretty simple:

“It’s just from weight loss.”

Hair loss CAN be a side effect of rapid weight loss, as it can trigger something called telogen effluvium, where more hair than usual shifts into the shedding phase. It’s temporary, and it typically shows up a few months after weight loss begins. So this was my stance, “it’s just the weight loss, not much you can do”.

There’s emerging research suggesting that hair loss might not be explained by weight loss alone. In this study, people taking GLP-1 medications appear to report hair loss at higher rates than expected, even when accounting for weight change.

While it doesn’t mean the medication is the CAUSE, it is an interesting connection.

Unfortunately, right now, we don’t have a clear answer.

A few possible explanations are being discussed:

One is that these medications significantly reduce appetite, which can make it harder to meet protein, calorie, and micronutrient needs over time. So the solution here may be what I preach ALL DAY: eat enough, focus on protein, slow your weight loss down, take a multivitamin.

Another possible reason is that there could be a direct physiological effect of the medication, possibly related to hormones, stress signaling, or how the body prioritizes energy when intake is lower.

But we just don’t know. I have been asked A LOT about how to fix hair loss, and beyond my recommendations above, I don’t have a solution, a vitamin recommendation, or something that will prevent it from happening.

What I do know is this: Hair loss in this context is usually temporary.

But there is still some truth that it’s tied to the same core issue:
Your body is under-fueled for what it needs, and you might be losing weight too fast.

It just means it might be time to shift from “how little can I eat” to “what do I need to add back in to support my body:. This is what we cover in the GLP-1 Hub membership.

I know there are a lot of questions about this still. I plan to reach out to the researchers of this study to see if they are willing to come on the podcast. I have had a HARD time finding someone to talk about hair loss…so stay tuned. In the meantime, grab yourself a high-protein snack.

On the podcast this week, I interviewed my colleague, Dr. Renee Korczak all about dietary fats and how they play a role in our GLP1 journey and overall health. We talk so much about protein + fiber, I figure we could talk about the other important macronutrient for a change!

I also interviewed another amazing colleague, Jennifer Scheinman, MS, RD, all about a unique compound called urolithin A, which has been found in clinical studies to support muscle strength during weight loss. This is such fascinating research that could help mitigate some of the muscle loss effects of GLP1.

Over on YouTube, I published a video about GLP-1 and exercise and why you need less than you think, and another on how to deal with food aversions on GLP1.