Trichologist Abdulaziz Balwi has warned that weight loss injections like Ozempic increase the risk of hair thinning by 37 to 68 percent. His comments on study findings regarding side effects of popular weight loss treatments were published by Metro.
A study by scientists at the University of Pennsylvania in the United States examined medications containing semaglutide or tirzepatide, such as Ozempic. Balwi stated that the side effect is presumably caused not by the medication itself, but by rapid weight loss triggering a condition called telogen effluvium.
Telogen effluvium and hair shedding
Under normal conditions, 15 percent of hair on the head is in the shedding phase. For people experiencing telogen effluvium, which involves rapid hair shedding usually caused by stress or bodily changes, that figure rises to 30 percent or more. Balwi added that hair loss typically starts two to four months after beginning treatment or raising the dosage of Ozempic-like drugs.
General practitioner Babak Ashrafi noted that the hair loss is temporary in most cases. He said hair growth generally resumes once weight stabilizes and a person establishes a balanced diet.
Other habits affecting hair health
British stylist Matthew Curtis previously outlined common habits that lead to baldness. Curtis explained that tight hairstyles, specifically ponytails, sleek buns, and braids, can worsen hair condition.
