Why is obesity defined as a disease - and when does it really endanger us?
(Walla system)
Drugs like Wegovy and Ozempic have become very popular weight loss drugs in the past year, but it turns out that pounds aren't the only thing people report losing.
Various social media groups of people taking the drugs also include posts about hair loss.
These come after reports of the so-called "Ozempic Face" which basically describes the shocking side effect of the drug on the faces of those who use it after sudden weight loss.
"What's really noticeable is that there are no scalp symptoms. It's not painful, there's no itching, but you can run your hands through your hair and you're left with big strands of hair. It can be really disturbing to see," said Dr. Susan Massick, a dermatologist at Ohio State University. State, who saw patients who lost hair due to the use of weight loss drugs.
It is important to clarify that these drugs were originally intended for people with type 2 diabetes, but they are also often prescribed for weight loss.
Ozmpic weight loss shot (Photo: ShutterStock)
Although hair loss is a serious side effect, Dr. Vijaya Surampudi, assistant director of the UCLA Weight Management Program in Los Angeles, said it is relatively rare among people taking the drugs
. Clinical 3% of people reported hair loss, compared to 1% of people on placebo. (Vigobi and Azampic are the same drug but Vigobi is given at a higher dose) In a clinical trial to test the effects on weight loss, almost 6% of people taking the highest dose reported balding - A general word for any type of hair loss - compared to 1% of those who received a placebo.
According to the NBC NEWS website, the manufacturer of the drug Tirzepatide, Eli Lilly, said in a statement that the hair loss seen in the clinical trial was usually short-lived. "Hair loss is a side effect that has been associated with decreased significantly in weight in many previous clinical trials for the treatment of obesity," the statement said.
good to know (in advance)
The secret to improving your sex life - now in a special sale
Served on behalf of "Gabra"
"shocking the system"
"It is unlikely that hair loss is related to the drugs," said Surampudi, who advised patients who experienced hair loss while using the drugs, "but it is more likely to be related to the weight loss resulting from these drugs."
According to him, hair loss during times of stress, whether it's pregnancy, divorce or dramatic weight loss, is extremely common.
The condition even has a name: telogen effluvium.
Because the drugs suppress the appetite, people usually eat significantly less than their bodies are used to while taking the drugs.
"You're shocking the system," Surampudi said.
While taking the drug, people can lose 5%-20% of their body weight in six to 12 months before the weight loss levels.
"This is a significant change for everyone."
Under normal conditions, people are constantly shedding and growing hair.
But shock causes the body to reserve resources for vital functions.
Hair growth goes into what is known as the resting phase: the hair continues to fall out but at the same time stops growing.
Hair loss in the shower (Photo: ShutterStock, Nalada Nagawasuttama)
The phenomenon is temporary and does not affect everyone.
"There's usually a three-month lag after the weight loss stops, when you get to that point, that the shedding will slowly start to stop and the hair will start to grow back," Masik said.
Hair loss is a common side effect of significant weight loss in a short period of time, and people who undergo bariatric surgery, or weight loss, are usually warned ahead of time that this may be a side effect.
"It is very common for people after bariatric surgery to lose quite a bit of hair. This is one of the biggest complaints I hear and people are afraid they will go bald."
"You won't lose all your hair, you won't go bald, and it will grow back, so it's not a permanent situation," Masik said, adding that once the weight stabilizes, the body will start allocating resources again to non-essential functions like hair growth.
health
news
Tags
Dropout
Weight
diet
diabetes mellitus
Ozmpic