By Edward J. Thomas –
Weight-loss medications like Ozempic and Wegovy have become wildly popular in recent years as thousands of individuals look to shed pounds either for cosmetic reasons or to improve their health. Admittedly, these semaglutide medications have helped shed pounds while also delivering some additional benefits that involve heart health, kidney benefits, cognitive support and even cancer-fighting abilities.
Now, however, Canadian researchers warn that drug users may lose something more than weight. They could face an increased risk of hair loss. In fact, the more weight a person loses, the more hair they tend to shed, according to the research.
The University of British Columbia researchers issued the warning after analyzing data from 16 million patients, including 1,926 semaglutide users and 1,348 users of bupropion-naltrexone, which is another type of weight-loss medication. They found, after accounting for other issues, that semaglutide users were 50 percent more likely to experience hair loss compared to the other group. Women faced twice the risk of men.
Beyond this, individuals who lost more than 20 percent of their body weight while taking semaglutide recorded a higher rate of hair loss.
It is not clear exactly why these drug users lose hair, but it may be a result of physiological stress produced by rapid weight loss. This may mean that the lost hair may return once an individual’s target weight is reached.
The results weren’t entirely surprising. “There were [previous] anecdotal reports of hair loss and also reports of hair loss in clinical trials of the drugs,” co-study author Dr. Mahyar Etminan said in previous interviews.
Other experts also noted the research was in line with their expectations. “We have heard this anecdotally when patients consult us for surgical restoration of their face after rapid weight loss,” said Dr. Patrick Davis, a Beverly Hills plastic surgeon and hair restoration expert.
The British Columbian researchers noted that their research has some limitations, including that the data analyzed didn’t allow them to identify hair loss via medical records. It was identified through medical codes for hair loss.
