Men already at risk genetically for the most common form of hair loss have a 7 percent added risk of losing their locks when taking medications like Ozempic, Wegovy, and Zepbound for obesity and type 2 diabetes, a new study indicates.
Genetic Risk and GLP-1 Receptor Activity
The research, directed by investigators at NYU Langone Health, examined the GLP1R gene—which naturally boosts the body’s levels of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor proteins—to serve as a marker for GLP-1 agonist activity. By evaluating genetic repositories encompassing 31,684 predominantly White female and male participants from the eQTLGen dataset alongside 205,327 predominantly White men from the Complex Traits Genetics group repository, the investigation demonstrated that GLP1R genes naturally producing elevated GLP-1 receptor protein levels appear more frequently in males suffering from androgenetic alopecia, a hereditary pattern of hair shedding across the front and crown of the head.
Did you know? Approximately 12 percent of individuals in America have utilized GLP-1 medications strictly for shedding pounds, which includes twenty percent of women between 50 and 64 years old, while prescription rates for these drugs have surged more than threefold since the Food and Drug Administration initially cleared the first GLP-1 medication (Ozempic) back in 2020.
Controlling for Confounding Health Factors
To account for established hair loss hazards associated with hypertension—believed to diminish scalp blood circulation and impair follicle development—the investigators subsequently modified their statistical evaluation. The 7 percent added risk remained the same. To further validate their findings, the investigators tested their risk models against alternative contributors to hair shedding, such as decreased testosterone levels and insulin resistance, which is a driver of type 2 diabetes. Still, the increased risk of hair loss from GLP-1 use remained at 7 percent.
Evaluating Weight Loss Shedding Versus Genetic Links
Numerous male and female consumers of GLP-1 treatments have noted hair thinning as an adverse effect, with investigators previously attributing this shedding to rapid weight reduction provoked by the pharmaceuticals, which function to suppress appetite and balance blood sugar. Often, GLP-1 users have found that hair growth resumes several months after their weight stabilizes. Appearing online Sept. 3 in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology, the research establishes the initial genetic connection between GLP-1 utilization and an elevated susceptibility to male-pattern baldness driven by androgenetic alopecia, a correlation long suspected but previously unproven through scientific methods. Because male hair thinning disorders are thoroughly researched whereas female hair loss is not, the investigators were restricted to assessing causal relationships concerning male hair loss exclusively.
Future Screening and Combination Treatments
“Our findings suggest that, if future experiments prove successful, some men, and possibly women too, could be screened and benchmarked for their risk of hair loss before being prescribed GLP-1 medications,” said study senior investigator Lynn Petukhova, PhD, an assistant professor in the Ronald O. Perelman Department of Dermatology and the Department of Population Health at NYU Grossman School of Medicine. “We could also envision these findings leading to some GLP-1 users being prescribed combination treatments to prevent hair loss, such as minoxidil or some other drug.” Additional investigation is required, according to Petukhova, to grasp the cellular pathways through which GLP-1 consumption compromises hair follicle proliferation. She also has plans to investigate whether the links seen in men apply to women.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do weight-loss drugs cause permanent hair loss?
Often, GLP-1 users have found that hair growth resumes several months after their weight stabilizes.
Which medications were evaluated in the study?
The study focused on the GLP1R gene as an indicator of GLP-1 agonist activity, examining drugs like Ozempic, Wegovy, and Zepbound.
Does this hair loss risk apply to women?
Because researchers were only able to examine potential causal links between the medications and hair loss in men due to the robust scientific literature surrounding male hair loss compared to female hair loss, Dr. Petukhova intends to explore whether these same associations extend to women as well.
What are your thoughts on these findings? Have you or someone you know experienced hair thinning while using weight-loss medications? Join the conversation by leaving a comment below, and subscribe to our newsletter for the latest updates in medical research.
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