GeneralWhat’s the Link Between Hair Loss and Weight Loss?

Hair loss is a temporary side effect when an individual reduces weight by restraining dieting or weight-loss operation. The cause could be stress on the body or nutrient deficiencies.

Telogen effluvium, a common cause of hair loss, is given this type of hair loss. It usually happens 3–4 months after rapid weight loss and lasts six months.

Hair loss isn’t the same as hair fall. According to Dr. Mohit Srivastava, one of Surat’s leading hair transplant surgeons, hair loss of 50–100 strands per day is common. Hair shedding is the term for this.

However, much more hair falls out during telogen effluvium.

Telogen effluvium can be caused by a variety of factors, including:

• losing a significant amount of weight
• giving birth
• having high levels of stress
• having high fever
• undergoing surgery
• experiencing illness, particularly with high fever
• stopping birth control pills

As the body adjusts to the changes, telogen effluvium usually fades away after 6–9 months.

Causes

Following weight loss, telogen effluvium can occur due to nutrient deficiencies in the diet and the cumulative effects of weight loss on the body.

This is especially true if you have lost weight through crash dieting, weight loss surgery, or restrictive dieting.

Healthy hair shaft formation and the development of hair growth require proper nutrition. According to Dr. Mohit Srivastava, diets low in iron and zinc are more likely to cause hair loss. Fatty acids, selenium, and vitamin D are among the nutrients that may influence hair growth.

Throughout their lives, hair shafts go through several cycles. The following are some of them:

• The anagen phase: This occurs when hair is growing and can last for several years.
• The catagen phase: This is a short transitional phase of a few weeks.
• The telogen phase: This is a rest phase of 3–4 months. At the end of this phase, the hair will fall out, and new hair will grow in the follicle.

When the body is under stress, the hairs stop growing and enter the catagen phase too soon, resulting in hair loss. They will join the telogen phase and shed their hair prematurely.

Surgical weight loss

Weight loss surgery can help you lose weight, but it can also cause nutrient deficiencies, which can cause hair loss.

For example, a 2018 study of 50 people who had a sleeve gastrectomy found that more than half of them lost their hair.

In addition, one study from 2021 found that nearly 75% of 112 women who had a sleeve gastrectomy experienced hair loss. Almost 80% of those who reported the problem said it began 3–4 months after the surgery.

Is telogen effluvium a temporary or permanent condition?

Hair loss as a result of weight loss is neither harmful nor irreversible. Within a few months, the body adjusts, and hair production resumes.

The nutrient deficiencies caused by a restrictive weight loss plan, on the other hand, can be harmful.

Reduced iron intake, for example, can result in iron deficiency anemia, which has several serious health consequences.

Iron deficiency anemia can lead to:

• infections
• heart problems
• developmental delays in children
• pregnancy problems
• depression

Malnutrition and its complications, such as decreased muscle function, cardiorespiratory problems, stomach problems, suppressed immunity, depression, and anxiety, can result from severe calorie restriction.

Treatment and prevention

Telogen effluvium following weight decline can be caused by nutrient deficiencies or rapid weight loss.

The focus of telogen effluvium prevention and treatment is on proper nutrition and diet.

Long-term weight loss success and telogen effluvium prevention require a well-balanced diet free of crash diets and quick fixes.

Assume someone is already suffering from telogen effluvium and is no longer trying to shed pounds.

In that case, once people address their nutrient deficiency through diet and, if required, supplementation, the condition will most likely resolve over time.

A person should seek out a well-paced, well-balanced diet that includes the essential micronutrients and macronutrients that the body requires to function daily.

If people are unsure about the precise levels of these macronutrients and micronutrients, they should consult a licensed nutritionist.

If following a limited diet, be sure to include foods rich in iron and zinc. Look for:

• shellfish
• seeds
• nuts
• cashews
• chicken
• eggs
• dairy
• legumes
• spinach
• broccoli
• fish
• quinoa
• turkey

Summary

Dr. Mohit Srivastava says,” Hair loss after losing weight is a common occurrence that can be caused by stress or nutrient deficiencies.”

Telogen effluvium is the term used by experts to describe this condition. Three months after the initial weight loss, telogen effluvium sets in.

Nutrient deficiencies caused by precariously limiting dieting or weight decline surgery are the most common causes of this condition. As the body adjusts to the weight loss, it usually resolves within six months.

If a person has a clinical deficiency, a doctor may recommend adjusting the diet to add iron, zinc, and other essential nutrients to treat telogen effluvium.

There is currently no evidence to support supplementation as a treatment for telogen effluvium in people with a nutrient deficiency.

This is a sponsored post