Dr Amir Khan discussed one of the potential side effects of weight loss jabs (Image: Getty)
A doctor has answered one of the “biggest questions” about weight loss jabs. According to the expert, hair loss is one side effect people who take the medications could experience.
Weight loss medications, also known as GLP-1 inhibitors, work by mimicking GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1), a hormone naturally produced in the gut that plays a vital role in controlling blood sugar levels and suppressing appetite.
GLP-1 inhibitors have seen a recent surge in popularity, largely due to their proven efficacy in managing blood sugar in people with diabetes and aiding weight loss.
They can be prescribed in the form of injections taken once a week, or a pill taken daily. However, like any medication, there are some potential side effects.
On an episode of his podcast No Appointment Necessary, Doctor Amir Khan discussed hair loss as one such side effect. A video clip of the show was posted to Instagram, with the caption reading “it’s one of the biggest questions being asked when taking the weight loss jab”.
However, Dr Amir clarified that hair loss is not just a side effect of the drugs – it can happen to anyone losing weight rapidly. Speaking to co-host Cherry Healey, Dr Amir said: “Anyone who loses weight quickly, your body goes into a kind of famine crisis starvation mode.”
Cherry responded: “So your body says, ‘Oh my gosh, we’re not eating enough, we’ve got malnutrition, we’re in the middle of the desert, there’s no food around. I’ll make sure your heart is working but your hair can go.”
Dr Amir continued: “Your hair can go and that is true if you’ve lost weight quickly for any other reason. So whether it’s illness, whether it’s diet, whatever, if you lose weight rapidly, the same thing will happen.”
Cherry asked if you should therefore, make sure you are eating nutritious foods while losing weight. “So if you are trying to lose weight and it’s been wonderful for you but you are finding side effects like you’re losing hair, really making sure your nutrition is excellent?”
She listed the following types of foods for this:
- Protein
- Leafy greens
- Vegetables
- Legumes
Dr Amir answered: “Yes, none of that is going to make you put on weight it’s only going to make you leaner, stronger and healthier.” Cherry added: “I suppose it’s that thing that you’re changing your habits, so if you’ve eaten ultra-processed foods before or overeaten for your body, actually you’re starting to reshape what food looks like.”
What does research show?
Their advice comes as a recent study published in the British Medical Journal (BMJ), found using GLP-1 drugs was associated with a 37% higher risk of alopecia than the use of SGLT-2 inhibitors and a 68% higher risk of hair loss than use of DPP-4 inhibitors (both different types of blood sugar management medications).
Study authors wrote: “Use of GLP-1 receptor agonists was associated with an increased risk of non-scarring alopecia in adults with type 2 diabetes. Although the absolute risk is low, awareness of this potential effect may help to inform treatment decisions.”
They added: “Case reports and analyses of the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)’s Adverse Event Reporting System have described occurrences of hair loss following initiation of a GLP-1 receptor agonist, particularly semaglutide (Wegovy and Ozempic) and tirzepatide (Mounjaro).
“In response, the FDA has indicated that it is evaluating this potential safety signal. Although hair loss does not typically result in physical harm, it may have significant psychosocial consequences, affecting self-esteem, quality of life, and adherence to treatment.”
Other side effects
As reported by the British Heart Foundation (BHF), around one in 10 people on GLP-1 inhibitors could experience digestive problems, such as:
- Feeling sick
- Diarrhoea
- Constipation
- Stomach pain
The injections can also cause tiredness or dizziness, hair loss, low blood sugar and a fast heart rate in some people. A rarer but more serious side effect is acute pancreatitis, which could cause a sudden severe pain in the middle of your abdomen and requires immediate medical attention.
This story originally appeared on Express.co.uk
