GLP-1 medications like Ozempic, Wegovy and Mounjaro have become increasingly popular as weight loss treatments in recent years. While they're effective for helping many people lose weight, some users have reported increased hair shedding during treatment.
If you've noticed more hair fall since starting a GLP-1 medication, or you’re worried about the potential risk, we'll look at here’s what the research says about the link between GLP-1s and hair loss, why it may happen, and what you can do to support healthy hair growth while losing weight.
What are GLP-1s?
For anyone who has managed not to hear about GLP-1s, here's a quick rundown of what they are and how they work.
GLP-1s are a class of medication used to treat type 2 diabetes and obesity. GLP-1 stands for glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist, which mimics a hormone naturally released by your body when you eat. This hormone helps regulate blood sugar levels, slows digestion and reduces hunger signals, helping to control appetite.
Injections and tablets containing these medications have become increasingly popular for weight loss. Brand names such as Ozempic, Wegovy and Mounjaro are all popular examples of GLP-1 medications. You may also hear them referred to as ‘weight loss injections’ or ‘skinny jabs’.
Can GLP-1s cause hair loss?
Potentially. Reports of hair loss in post-marketing surveillance, which is the process of monitoring the safety, side effects and effectiveness of medicines after they are sold to the public, have established that it may be a potential side effect of using GLP-1s to lose weight. The real-world reports are further supported by a handful of studies which have investigated the link.
A 2026 review by the British Medical Journal using health record data over a 5-year period confirmed that the use of GLP-1 receptor agonists in adults with type 2 diabetes was associated with an increased risk of certain types of alopecia (hair loss). Another 2026 review, whichith included the health record data of 547,993 GLP-1 RA users and controls between 2014-2024, also found an association between the use of the weight loss medstreatments and alopecia.
Why can GLP-1s be linked to hair loss?
Based on what we know so far, hair loss appears more likely to be a temporary side effect of rapid weight loss than a direct side effect of the medication itself.
The reviews found that GLP-1 use increased the likelihood of users experiencing telogen effluvium, a type of sudden hair loss triggered by physical or metabolic stress. Rapid weight loss, calorie restriction and nutritional deficiencies are all well-established triggers of telogen effluvium.
GLP-1 medications reduce appetite, which can lead some users to eat significantly less. This may make it harder to consume enough calories or meet daily nutritional requirements, particularly if weight loss is occurring quickly. As a result, the hair growth cycle can be disrupted, leading to increased shedding and thinning.
This is currently considered the most likely explanation for the link between GLP-1 use and hair loss, although further research is needed to understand whether hormonal changes may also play a role.
Importantly, greater weight loss has been linked to a higher risk of hair loss. In a Wegovy clinical trial, 5.3% of participants who lost more than 20% of their body weight experienced hair loss, compared to 2.5% of those who lost less than 20%.
How to prevent hair loss
While hair loss isn't guaranteed, here are some practical steps you can take to reduce the risk.
Eat a balanced diet
Even if your overall calorie intake has reduced, your diet should contain an adequate amount of varied foods to meet your daily requirements of nutrients. Make sure you’re getting enough:
- Lean protein
- Fruits and vegetables
- Whole grains
- Healthy fats
Dietary supplements can help support meeting your daily nutritional needs, but they shouldn’t replace a healthy, balanced diet.
Lose weight gradually
Rapid weight loss can place stress on the body, so losing weight in a slow and steady way may help reduce the risk of telogen effluvium.
Make sure to fFollow the dosage recommended by your prescriber. Taking a higher dose than prescribed could lead to faster weight loss, potentially increasing stress on the body.
It’s also important to eat enough calories, as a very low-calorie intake can force your body to focus all of its energy on essential bodily functions and abandon non-essential ones like hair growth.
How to know if hair loss is caused by GLP-1 use, or something else?
Shedding caused by telogen effluvium typically:
- Begins weeks or months after the triggering event
- Causes diffuse (all over) shedding across the scalp
- Is temporary and will go away by itself once the underlying trigger is addressed
Male pattern baldness, on the other hand, is a genetic condition that develops gradually over time. Unlike telogen effluvium, it usually begins around the temples and crown and progresses slowly. It is also not temporary and will generally continue to worsen without treatment.
There are other, less common types of hair loss such as alopecia areata which are not likely to be linked to GLP-1 medications.
How to manage hair loss
If you’re experiencing hair loss while using a GLP-1 medication, it’s important to remember that the shedding is usually temporary. Your hair growth cycle should go back to normal once the stress is removed.
You can support a normal hair growth cycle by:
- Eating enough calories
- Meeting your daily nutritional requirements
- Consider dietary supplements if necessary
- Use an appropriate dosage to avoid losing weight too quickly
Can Minoxidil Spray help?
Minoxidil Spray is a licensed, clinically proven treatment for male and female pattern baldness, so you may be wondering whether it can also help with hair loss caused by telogen effluvium.
In theory, minoxidil may help hairs move from the shedding (telogen) phase back into the growth (anagen) phase. Because telogen effluvium occurs when more hairs than usual prematurely enter the telogen phase, encouraging hairs back into the growth phase could be beneficial.
In one small study, researchers found that 5% Minoxidil Spray improved total hair count in 12 patients with telogen effluvium over a 24-week period. However, because telogen effluvium typically resolves on its own once the trigger is removed, it's difficult to determine how much of the improvement was due to minoxidil and how much was the result of natural recovery.
It's also worth noting that Minoxidil Spray needs to be used continuously to maintain its effects in pattern hair loss, whereas telogen effluvium will often resolve without treatment within 6-9 months once the underlying cause has been addressed.
For that reason, Minoxidil Spray is usually only recommended for stubborn cases of telogen effluvium which don’t seem to be getting better by themselves. If your hair loss isn’t improving after 6-9 months, you can speak to your prescriber about options.
So, can GLP-1 medications cause hair loss?
Current evidence suggests there may be an association between GLP-1 use and increased hair shedding, but the most likely explanation is the rapid weight loss these medications can cause rather than a direct effect of the drugs themselves. For many people, the resulting hair loss is a temporary condition known as telogen effluvium, which typically improves once the underlying trigger has been addressed.
If you're using a GLP-1 medication and noticing increased shedding, focusing on gradual, sustainable weight loss and maintaining a balanced diet may help reduce the risk. And while treatments such as Minoxidil Spray may support hair growth in some cases, telogen effluvium often resolves naturally over time.
If you're concerned about hair loss while taking Ozempic, Wegovy or Mounjaro, it's always best to speak with your prescriber before
All of our blog articles are reviewed by our Medical Director before publication.
