A doctor has explained what can happen to the body when a weight loss drug indirectly triggers it into 'stress mode'.
Drugs such as Mounjaro, Ozempic, and Wegovy have become all the rage when it comes to shedding some pounds, with celebrities such as Jeremy Clarkson and Amy Schumer some of the many to help popularise their use.
Since then, we've seen the NHS adopt Mounjaro and Wegovy as official weight loss regulating drugs, despite all three of the aforementioned medicines being initially designed as treatments for type 2 diabetes.
However, people across the world have quickly realised that the drugs can help them lose weight and even those who are a long way off qualifying for the strict NHS criteria to be eligible have found a way to get their hands on the various injections.
Advert
Although there are a lot of health benefits associated with losing weight, with some of the drugs helping to aid cardiovascular health and perhaps even performance in the bedroom, there are also a huge amount of side effects that have also been linked with taking them.
And now, a doctor has gone into detail about how some weight loss drugs could potentially cause the body to go into 'stress mode' which could even see the users lose their hair.
Doctor Amir Khan said: "The injections themselves aren't directly causing the hair loss. What's happening is something called telogen effluvium. Your body shifts your hair into the shedding phase because it is stressed from the rapid weight loss.
"There are three main triggers. You have suddenly cut your calories and your body thinks 'uh oh, I'm in starvation mode', so it prioritises essential organs, not your hair.
Advert
"You may not be getting enough protein, that's the second reason. Hair is made of keratin, so if you're not eating at least 60 to 80g of protein per day, your hair follicles literally slow production and your nutrition may dip. "Things like iron, vitamin D, B-12 and zinc often drop when people eat less."
However, the doctor also suggests that these changes should be temporary, and there are five ways in which you can minimise it.
He suggests prioritising steady weight loss, eating nutritious and protein rich foods, taking nutrient support, looking after your scalp and being patient, as the body will eventually recover.
Unsurprisingly, the dangers and side effects of weight loss drugs only increase when you don't do it safely, so if you are prescribed the medication, it's worth following health advice to ensure that you can keep your body healthy.
James Moorhouse