Weight loss drugs could cause hair loss and impact your 'quality of life'

Weight loss drugs could cause hair loss and impact your 'quality of life' The new hair loss study of 50,000 users of weight loss jabs appears to establish a link between weight loss drugs, such as Wegovy and Mounjaro, and alopecia according to the British Medical Journal Weight loss drugs could cause your hair to fall out, new research suggests. A study of 50,000 users of weight loss jabs, such as Wegovy and Mounjaro, appears to confirm a link between them and a rare side effect of alopecia. People on the appetite-suppressing meds have been reporting hair loss to regulators but it was not known whether it was being caused by the drugs themselves. Although the overall risk is low, analysis of electronic patient data from the University of Pennsylvania Health System in the US appears to confirm the link. Patients on weight loss drugs were 68% more likely to report hair loss than comparable patients on different diabetes medications according to the findings in the British Medical Journal. Experts believe it could be caused by sudden drops in calorie intake and nutrient deficiencies. The US Food and Drug Administration is now investigating the possible side effect. Dr Yong Chen, of the University of Pennsylvania, said: “Weight loss and changes in nutritional status… are established risk factors for telogen effluvium, a common and typically transient form of non-scarring hair loss, providing a plausible biological mechanism for this association. "Although hair loss does not typically result in physical harm, it may have significant psychosocial consequences, affecting self-esteem, quality of life, and adherence to treatment." The study established a link with non-scarring alopecia - where hair follicles remain intact - leaving the potential for hair to regrow. It did not confirm whether hair grew back. Weekly injections such as Ozempic, Wegovy and Mounjaro slow digestion and reduce appetite by mimicking a hormone called glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) which regulates hunger and feelings of fullness. But recently experts, including Good Morning Britain's Dr Amir Khan, have supported other ways to lose weight instead. Dr Khan, in the clip below, stresses the importance of sleep. Researchers looked at people with type 2 diabetes on GLP-1 drugs or other types of diabetes drugs known as SGLT-2 inhibitors and DPP-4 inhibitors. In total, 12,004 patients using GLP-1s were compared with 15,221 using SGLT-2 inhibitors and a further 11,964 GLP-1 users were compared with 11,233 DPP-4 inhibitor users. After adjusting for factors that could influence the results, such as age and weight, researchers found using GLP-1 drugs were associated with a 37% higher risk of alopecia than use of SGLT-2 inhibitors. GLP-1s were also linked to a 68% higher risk of hair loss than use of DPP-4 inhibitors. Dr Marie Spreckley, weight management researcher at Cambridge University, said: “Rapid weight loss is a recognised trigger for temporary hair shedding. Nutritional deficiencies, such as iron or zinc deficiency, may also contribute. “This study provides important evidence that clinicians and patients should be aware of this potential adverse effect, but it should be interpreted in the context of the substantial and well-established benefits of GLP-1 receptor agonists for improving glycaemic control, reducing body weight, and lowering the risk of obesity-related complications. For many people, those benefits are likely to outweigh this relatively small potential risk." Common side effects of GLP-1 drugs also include vomiting and constipation. They require personalised support from specialists so that weight loss is maintained. The NHS prescribes the GLP-1 injections Mounjaro and Wegovy for weight loss but Ozempic only for diabetes.