One of the most often asked questions from eleganhoopae is why I lose hair when lowering weight or after, or is there a connection between hair loss and weight loss? The quick response is yes! Weight loss is often linked with a healthier body condition, but not always!
There is no difference; hair loss after weight loss can happen to both men and women, probably for multiple reasons, like an unhealthy diet ( you do not fuel your body with all the necessary nutrients it needs) during your regime, lack of drinking water, the drugs you eat for weight loss, and many others that we will discuss in following.
This article will show why this happens and how it can be prevented. Start with first important question:
Why are you losing hair after weight loss?
Losing hair after a quick weight loss is known as telogen effluvium, and it usually happens after 3 to 4 months after you have rapidly shed some pounds. But before you get worried about it, you should know that not all the hair that falls off your head is considered hair loss.
In fact, it is entirely natural to see about 100 to 150 hair strands fall per day, which is called hair shedding. However, if you see more than the usual amount of hair on your comb or on your pillow after you wake up, especially if you are trying to lose weight or already have, it might be a sign of telogen effluvium.
Causes of hair loss while losing weight
When you lose weight rapidly, whether willingly or not, it could lead to nutrition deficiency, which can ultimately result in hair loss and other health problems. Different situations that could lead to you losing your hair are:
- Pregnancy and child delivery
- High level of stress
- Fever
- Surgical operations
- Medical conditions and taking certain medicines
- Differenet Diseases
This type of hair loss usually disappears after 6 to 9 months while your body adjusts to the weight and your transformation. Telogen effluvium after weight loss happens mainly because your body does not receive the nutrients it needs, especially if you have been following a restrictive diet.
diets, crash diets, and fad diets such as keto diet, intermittent fasting, Or juice cleansing have been associated with hair loss among both males and females.
- Keto Diet: The keto diet has a higher percentage of fat accompanied by lower carbohydrate content; therefore, it has been observed that the diet may sometimes produce a lack of nutrients, especially essential vitamins, and minerals, including zinc and iron, that are vital for hair health.
- Intermittent Fasting (IF) is effective in weight loss, but eating too little for long hours in a day could greatly harm the body. This leads to loss of energy and hair health since hair follicles do not receive the required nutrients for healthy growth.
- Juice Cleanses: Juice diets are particularly low in protein and most other vitamins and minerals. Like all other body tissues, hair is composed of protein, specifically keratin, which means that if one were to lack protein, his or her hair could become brittle and more likely to break or shed.
Apart from these diets, people who have undergone weight loss surgeries are also likely to suffer from unnatural hair loss. So, if you want to get slimmer within the shortest possible time and still be healthy without having to deal with side effects like hair loss due to a low nutrient and calorie intake, then you should consider taking your diet into account. So, If you are willing to lose weight fast and safely, there are many things to consider so you do not experience such side effects.
Protein and vitamin role in hair loss after losing weight:
Clinical data show that this hair loss is often due to low-level iron and zinc diets. Other nutrients essential to better hair growth are fatty acids, selenium, and vitamin D. It is best to follow a diet that can provide these necessities for your body so you do not experience hair loss or other unwanted problems.
Apart from these minerals and vitamins, hair health depends on sufficient protein. Keratin, a sort of protein, makes up most of the hair; if the body lacks this kind of protein, it could not be able to create healthy hair.
Inadequate amounts of protein in the diet result in brittle hair, which tends to break off or be shed before its natural time. To avoid this, we should introduce protein-rich foods into our diet, especially if one is on a weight loss program. Some great sources of protein that support hair health include: Some great sources of protein that support hair health include:
These are poultry products such as chicken, turkey, and beef among others.
- Fish (salmon, tuna, sardines)
- Tofu and tempeh for vegetarian and vegan persons
- Beans and lentils
- Eggs are rich in both protein and biotin, a vitamin known to promote hair growth.
- Greek yogurt and cottage cheese, which provide a healthy dose of protein without excess fat
Please include adequate protein and vitamins in your diet to minimize hair loss during your fat reduction plan. Your body needs all essential nutrients, even if you want to lose some pounds.
Related article: Keto hair loss
The cycle of hair growth
A single hair strand goes through different phases :
- The Anagen phase is when the hair is growing, and it can last for years
- The Catagen phase is when it is experiencing transition. During this level, hair follicles shrink, and hair growth slows
- The Telogen phase can last 3 to 4 months and is called the rest phase; usually, about 10 to 15 percent of all the hair on your head is in this stage. At this level, the hair does not grow, nor does it fall out.
- The Exogen Phase is the final level in which hair is shed from the scalp, and you can see the lost hair when you brush or wash your hair. As the old hairs fall out, new ones will replace them.
The basic reason behind losing your hair more than you do is that the stress and the pressure on the body will send a signal to the hairs, and they go to the catagen phase sooner than expected.
Losing hair after surgical weight loss
Weight loss surgeries are a common method for people with obesity to get back in a better shape and a healthier body, but they are not risk-free, and one of the most common situations that can happen after a person undergoes surgery is losing hair. This is because the body is facing nutrition deficiency.
For example, in one study conducted on 50 people who have undergone sleeve gastrectomy, it was observed that more than half of them experienced hair loss. Another study on 112 women who have undergone the same type of surgery revealed that more than 75% of them lost their hair after 3 to 4 months of the surgery.
Can weight loss drugs lead to hair loss?
Using weight loss supplements is also common for both men and women, especially those who want to shed those extra pounds fast. But, like any other type of medication and supplements, they have their side effects, and some of them can lead to hair loss. So, it is best to consult a doctor to see what type of medication is suitable for you that does not threaten your hair’s health.
Is hair loss after weight loss permanent?
As we have covered before, losing hair after sudden weight lossis not a permanent situation, nor is it dangerous; your body needs time to adapt to the new version of your body, and after a short period, your hair will start to grow back. That said, If you follow a restrictive diet, the lack of adequate nutrition in your body can be harmful.
For instance, If your body does not get enough Iron, hair loss is not the only issue you are going to face; Anemia is another problem associated with Iron deficiency. For those who take calorie counting more seriously and put themselves in a severe calorie deficiency situation, facing malnutrition and accompanying issues is inevitable.
This can ultimately result in decreased muscle function, cardiorespiratory problems, digestion issues, and a weaker immune system. So, you should consult with your doctor or healthcare provider before starting a new diet to see if it is going to provide you with sufficient calories and nutrients. Otherwise, you will probably get lost in all these internet crash diets that are likely to put your health at risk.
How can hair loss be prevented while losing weight?
Based on all the information covered here, we can say that preventing hair loss after weight loss is totally possible, and the most important step to do so is to provide the body with all the protein, vitamins, and minerals it needs. Moreover, drinking water is important for preserving hair follicles and ensuring healthy hair is grown. Water aids in delivering nutrients to the hair roots as they grow, thus making the hair strong.
As you make your meals, ensure that you take balanced meals with enough vegetables, fruits, and nuts, and of course, adequate water intake, preferably eight glasses a day or more, depending on your activity levels or when you are on a weight loss program.
Along with a healthy diet, you might want to add biotin and collagen peptide supplements to your daily practice. Biotin makes hair stronger and less likely to break, and collagen peptides help keep hair’s structure and flexibility. Omega-3 fatty acids are also very important for keeping your skin healthy and lowering inflammation, both of which can cause hair loss.
Personal advice for unique situations of weight and hair loss:
For those who are already facing this type of hair loss, it is best you do not get worried about it as it will go away once the body has adapted to the new conditions. Meanwhile, to reduce the amount of hair you are losing and increase their growth, you can increase your mineral intake and try other methods, such as using natural homemade masks to help strengthen your hair roots. Also, If by any chance you are following a diet full of limitations, be sure to add the following to your foods:
- Shellfish
- Seeds
- Nuts
- Eggs
- Dairy
- Legumes
- Spinach
- Quinoa
- Turkey
- Broccoli
- Fish
- Cashews
- Chicken
Best tips to regrow hair after losing weight
Many methods exist to stop unnatural hair loss and help them grow faster. We already mentioned how important your diet is, but other than that, the following tips can help you regrow the hair that you are losing:
- So please do not expose your hair to bad conditions. For washing the hair, you should use a shampoo and conditioner for fine or damaged hair. Choose hair products that have fortifying ingredients such as Biotin, Keratin, and Niacin, which are useful in hair regrowth and for improving hair texture. Do not use products containing sulfate, paraben, and alcohol, as they will even worsen the hair’s moisture condition.
- There are shampoos, hair serums, and leave-in treatments formulated to help revive and protect thinning hair strands. Most serums contain one or more active constituents, such as peptides, caffeine, or amino acids, that assist in promoting the growth of hair follicles, hence better hair.
- Treat your hair with a lot more care when you use a comb or a brush. Applying a hair straightener or styling hair with high heat can weaken or even break hair.
- Head massage can be applied by rubbing your head hard to boost blood circulation under the hair follicle. This allows the nutrients to reach the hair roots, giving it a better chance of growing.
- However, you should always apply the essential oil to your hair, and when your hair is parched, it is advisable to use the oil on your head. Coconut oil is among the best oils that aid in hair regrowth, whereas argon and joba oils are good for retaining moisture and preventing further harm to the hair.
See also Summer beach body
Final thought:
Hair loss may occur during or after weight loss. Still, it is crucial to remember that this is usually a transitional period during which the human body adapts to nutrition, weight, and overall health changes.
Therefore, if appropriate steps are taken to lose weight, including consuming appropriate and balanced foods and observing other factors, such as avoiding tight ponytails and consuming supplements such as biotin, collagen peptides, and omega-3, hair loss can be discouraged or reduced.
However, let me remind you again that an effective workout that gets you to the desirable body will also benefit hair health in the long run. Still, if you’re experiencing high hair loss levels, it would be most appropriate to visit a healthcare provider or a nutritionist to guide you through the right course of action.
For example, you can contact our diet expert (in Elegant hoopoe) for a personal diet plan during your weight loss journey. We help you control your good eating when you do your task for fat reduction and even offer you effective non-surgical fat surgery that helps you lose some pounds in the best ways.
