Is Your Weight Loss Medication Secretly Affecting Your Hair?

Hair Loss and GLP-1 Medications: What You Need to Know

GLP-1 medications have become a popular tool for weight management and metabolic health—but some patients notice an unexpected side effect: hair shedding. While hair shedding is common, even for those not taking GLP-1s, it could be one of the first signs that the body may need more support.

Why GLP-1 Medications Can Affect Hair

GLP-1s work by slowing gastric emptying, which helps regulate blood sugar and appetite. While this mechanism helps with maintaining a healthy weight, among other things, is can sometime interfere with nutrient absorption—especially essential vitamins and minerals like B vitamins, iron, zinc, and biotin, all of which are crucial for healthy hair growth. Overtime, deficiencies in these nutrients can contribute to thinning hair or increased shedding.

Some people taking GLP-1s may also experience a type of hair loss called telogen effluvium. This condition occurs when stressors—like rapid weight loss, changes in nutrient absorption, or shifts in metabolism—push hair follicles into the resting phase prematurely, resulting in increased shedding.

Supporting Hair Health During GLP-1 Use

Fortunately, there are ways to help protect your hair while also benefiting from GLP-1 therapy:

Optimize Nutrition: Make sure your diet includes nutrient-rich foods like leafy greens, nuts, lean protein, and vitamin-C-rich fruits to support iron absorption.

Supplementation: Supplements that provide key hair-supporting nutrients can help fill in gaps left by reduced absorption. Ingredients like biotin, zinc, iron, niacinamide, methylcobalamin, and vitamin C have been shown to promote hair strength and growth.

Monitor and Adjust: Talk to your healthcare provider—they can check nutrient levels and guide safe supplementation.