Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
The Independent UK
The Independent UK
National
Jane Kirby

Weight loss drugs tied to unexpected side effect, study finds

  • A new study has linked weight loss drugs, specifically GLP-1 agonists such as Mounjaro, Ozempic , and Wegovy, to an increased risk of hair loss .
  • The research, which analysed data from approximately 50,000 people, found that GLP-1 drugs were associated with a 37 per cent to 68 per cent higher risk of alopecia compared to other diabetes medications.
  • Regulatory bodies, including the UK's MHRA and the US FDA, have received hundreds of reports of hair loss related to these drugs, with the FDA currently evaluating this as a potential safety signal.
  • Published in the British Medical Journal, the study suggests the hair loss is typically non-scarring alopecia, indicating that hair follicles remain intact.
  • Researchers propose that rapid weight loss, reduced caloric intake and associated physiological stress or micronutrient deficiencies are the most likely mechanisms contributing to the hair loss.

IN FULL

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.