Hair Loss on GLP-1 Medications: Why It Happens and How Nutrition Fits In
If you've noticed more hair in your brush or shower drain since starting Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro, or Zepbound, you're not imagining it, and you're not alone. Hair loss is a recognized side effect of these medications. The good news is that it has a likely explanation, and food is one of the things that can help.
How Common Is Hair Loss on GLP-1 Medications?
It's listed as a side effect on the official prescribing information for both Wegovy and Zepbound.
In the clinical trials for these two medications, roughly 3 to 6 out of every 100 people reported hair loss, depending on the medication and dose. On the placebo (inactive shot), it was about 1 in 100.
Women reported it much more often than men. In the Zepbound trials, about 7 in 100 women reported hair loss, compared with fewer than 1 in 100 men.
A large 2026 review that pooled studies covering more than a million people came to a similar conclusion: people taking GLP-1 medications were somewhat more likely to have hair loss than comparison groups.
Why Does It Happen?
So far, the research points mainly to what happens in your body while you take the medication, rather than the medication acting on your hair directly. Researchers are still studying this.
Changes in weight. The prescribing information for both Wegovy and Zepbound says hair loss in the trials was linked to weight reduction.
A type of shedding called telogen effluvium. The 2026 review found the strongest links with telogen effluvium, a kind of temporary shedding, and with pattern hair loss. Telogen effluvium happens when a stressor on the body, such as illness, surgery, or eating much less than usual, pushes more hairs than normal into a resting phase. Those hairs fall out a few months later, which is why the shedding can seem to come out of nowhere.
Eating less than your body needs. GLP-1 medications quiet hunger, and many people find they simply can't eat much. The authors of the 2026 review pointed to nutrient shortfalls during weight change as a likely reason for the hair loss. Eating too little for a stretch of time, whether it's from a medication, an illness, or a diet, can leave your body short on the energy, protein, and nutrients it uses to grow hair.
How Nutrition Can Help
When your appetite is low, every meal and snack has more work to do. A few things that help:
Eat on a schedule, not just when you're hungry. On a GLP-1 medication, hunger cues may be faint or missing. Regular meals and snacks, even small ones, help make sure your body gets fuel throughout the day. Our free GLP-1 snack guide has easy ideas.
Include protein at each meal and snack. Your hair is made mostly of protein. Eggs, Greek yogurt, cottage cheese, fish, chicken, tofu, beans, and lentils are all good options. Soft or liquid choices like smoothies, soups, and milk can be easier when solid food feels like too much. (Protein also matters for protecting muscle on these medications.)
Don't skip carbohydrates and fats. When you're eating less, your body needs enough total energy, not just protein. Grains, fruit, starchy vegetables, nuts, olive oil, and avocado all count. For more on building meals that work for you, see what to eat on Ozempic.
Ask about lab work. If your doctor finds a low nutrient level, such as iron, correcting it matters. A review of diet and hair loss in dermatology research supports correcting deficiencies that are found.
Be cautious with hair supplements. There's little evidence that hair supplements help people who aren't low in a nutrient. If you take biotin, which is in many supplements, tell your doctor before any blood work. The FDA warns that biotin can cause incorrect results on some lab tests.
When Eating Enough Feels Hard
For some people, a smaller appetite feels like a relief, and eating more can feel uncomfortable or even scary. If you notice you're skipping meals on purpose, feeling anxious about eating, or feeling guilty after you eat, that's important to talk about. GLP-1 medications can interact with past or current struggles with food, and you deserve support with that.
Want Support Eating Well on a GLP-1 Medication?
At Wilfong Nutrition, our registered dietitians help people on GLP-1 medications eat enough to feel well, protect their muscle and hair, and manage side effects, using a weight-neutral, non-diet approach. We see clients in person in Austin and by telehealth across Texas, and we're in-network with BCBS, Aetna, Cigna, United, and Curative.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Ozempic cause hair loss? Hair loss has been reported with semaglutide, the medicine in both Ozempic and Wegovy. The Wegovy prescribing information lists hair loss as a side effect. Ozempic and Wegovy are used at different doses for different conditions.
Does Zepbound or Mounjaro cause hair loss? In the Zepbound trials, about 4 to 5 out of 100 people reported hair loss, compared with 1 in 100 on placebo. Zepbound and Mounjaro contain the same medicine, tirzepatide.
Will my hair grow back? Telogen effluvium, the type of shedding most often associated with these medications, is usually temporary, and hair typically regrows once the underlying trigger resolves. If shedding continues, becomes severe, or you notice patches or thinning in one specific area, talk with your doctor or a dermatologist.
Should I stop my medication if my hair is falling out? Always consult with your prescriber before making medication changes. Your prescriber can also check for other causes of hair loss.
Can I prevent hair loss on a GLP-1 medication? There's no guaranteed way to prevent it. Eating regular meals with protein and enough total food, and checking for nutrient deficiencies with your doctor, are reasonable steps that support your body overall.
Do biotin supplements help GLP-1 hair loss? There's little evidence that biotin helps hair unless you're actually low in it, which is uncommon. Biotin can also interfere with some lab tests, so tell your doctor if you take it.
