A new study suggests popular weight-loss drugs may do more than help people shed pounds. Researchers at NYU Langone Health found that men who are genetically predisposed to male-pattern baldness may face an increased risk of hair loss if they use GLP-1 medications such as Ozempic, Wegovy and Zepbound. The findings, published September 3 in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology, provide what researchers say is the first genetic evidence linking GLP-1 activity to androgenetic alopecia, the most common form of hair loss in men.
Ahmed El Muntasar, who was not involved in the study, told Newsweek there are two possible explanations for the link. He said: "Rapid weight loss, reduced calorie and protein intake, and deficiencies in nutrients such as iron can trigger temporary shedding, while in someone who already has a genetic predisposition to male-pattern hair loss, GLP-1 receptor activity may potentially contribute to that underlying process as well." According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than one in four adults with diagnosed diabetes used GLP-1 injectables in 2024. Usage rates were similar among men (25.9 percent) and women (27.2 percent).
"Our study provides the first genetic link between GLP-1 use and an increased risk of male-pattern hair loss from androgenetic alopecia, an association long suspected but until now not shown scientifically," study senior investigator Lynn Petukhova, an assistant professor in the Ronald O. Perelman Department of Dermatology at NYU Grossman School of Medicine, said in a statement. The researchers found a 7 percent increased risk of hair loss.
They focused on the GLP1R gene, which naturally increases levels of GLP-1 receptor proteins in the body. The team compared genetic markers associated with increased GLP-1 activity with genetic markers linked to androgenetic alopecia, an inherited condition that causes hair loss along the top and front of the scalp. Male-pattern baldness was selected because its genetic causes are better understood than hair loss in women, allowing researchers to investigate whether a causal relationship exists.
Hair thinning has frequently been reported by people taking GLP-1 medications. Until now, scientists have largely attributed this to rapid weight loss, which can temporarily disrupt normal hair growth. Many patients regain hair growth once their weight stabilizes.
However, the researchers said the new findings point to a possible biological connection beyond weight loss alone. To test the association, the team adjusted their analysis for other factors known to affect hair growth, including hypertension, insulin resistance and lower testosterone levels. The increased risk remained at 7 percent after these adjustments.
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