Is There A Link Between Weight Loss And Hair Loss?

People who often try to shed a significant amount of weight or who adhere to a regimented eating plan on a consistent basis may be more likely to suffer from the adverse consequences of weight reduction, one of which is hair loss.

In certain cases, losing weight might result in a loss of hair, which is one of the worst side effects. This adverse response may be brought on by nutrient shortages, stress, and changes in hormone levels brought on by fast weight reduction, rigorous dieting, or weight loss surgery. This article explores the correlation between thinning hair and losing weight, as well as potential causes, treatments, and ways to avoid losing more hair in the future.

Types Of Hair Loss

There are several categories of hair thinning. However, androgenetic alopecia and telogen effluvium are two of the most prevalent types of hair loss.

Androgenetic Alopecia

Androgenetic alopecia is a kind of hair loss that is mostly caused by genetics and may affect as much as one half of both men and females. Androgens, a kind of hormone, are found in increased concentrations in the hair follicles of those who suffer from androgenetic alopecia. These androgens not only cause the hair development cycle to be shortened, but they also result in shorter and thinner hair strands that do not quickly begin to regenerate once they have been lost.

Telogen Effluvium

Another kind of hair loss known as telogen effluvium is characterized by an excessive amount of shedding. Telogen effluvium is a disorder that is supposed to be relatively frequent, although the actual incidence rate of this ailment is unknown; nonetheless, it is believed that many people will have this condition at some time throughout their life. In some cases, it is acute, meaning that it lasts for a relatively little amount of time, while in other cases, it is chronic, meaning that it lasts for a longer length of time.

Is The Loss Of Hair Dangerous?

The loss of hair in and of itself is not harmful, but the underlying reasons for hair loss after decreasing weight may be problematic. Extreme calorie restriction and a lack of essential nutrients, for instance, may lead to a variety of major health issues, including iron deficiency anemia and muscle wasting, amongst others. Anemia caused by a lack of iron may result in symptoms such as hair loss, impaired cognitive function, infertility, heart problems, depression, and immune system failure.

Other medical conditions, such as autoimmune illnesses, may also be the root of hair loss in certain people. Therefore, if you are experiencing hair loss, you should consult with your doctor since it could not be connected to the amount of weight you have lost.

Is There A Risk Of Hair Loss Following A Weight Loss?

Major contributors to hair loss with weight reduction include nutrient deficits as well as the various negative effects that fast weight loss may have on your body. An illness known as acute telogen effluvium or TE, which is one of the most common causes of severe hair loss on the scalp, has been related to diets that are too restrictive and sudden weight reductions. TE will often begin three months after a precipitating event, such as rapid weight loss, and will typically endure for around six months. Androgenic alopecia is a kind of TE that lasts for more than six months and is generally referred to as male or female pattern baldness.

Causes Of Hair Loss That Are Linked To Losing Weight

Here are some key ways in which losing weight might affect your hair’s health:

Crash Dieting: Numerous studies have shown an association between hair loss and fast weight loss, calorie restriction, nutritional shortfalls, and psychological stress; all of these factors are common among crash dieters. According to a research that was conducted on 180 women who had diffuse hair loss, the most prevalent causes of hair loss were a lack of iron in the body and psychological stress. Crash diets were also the cause in eight of the participants in the research. Crash diets may lead to a lack of essential fatty acids, zinc, protein, and calories, all of which can result in hair loss. Crash diets can also cause particular types of fatty acids to be depleted.

Low Protein: Diets low in protein may lead to protein malnutrition, which in turn can cause hair loss. It’s common for people who are balding to have deficiencies in certain amino acids, such histidine, leucine, valine, and cysteine. When your body’s requirements for protein aren’t met, it gives more priority to processes that are reliant on protein, such as the creation of hormones, maintaining the proper pH and water balance, and repairing damaged tissue.

Weight Loss Procedures: Weight loss surgeries are associated with fast weight reduction and often result in deficiencies in protein, vitamin, and mineral intakes, which may contribute to hair loss. Seventy-two percent of the patients in a research that was carried out in 2020 on 112 females who had had sleeve gastrectomy were found to be experiencing hair loss as a result of the procedure.

Diets That Are Too Restrictive: Diets that are too restrictive might cause hair loss because of a lack of nutrients or stress. Crash diets are one example of a restrictive diet. Inadequate levels of iron, zinc, protein, selenium, and essential fatty acids have all been associated with hair loss. Major stress, which is frequently accompanied with restricting one’s diet, has been connected to hair loss as well. Nutrient shortages, in addition to the other consequences that abrupt and fast weight reduction may have on your body, are a typical cause of hair loss after weight loss.

Telogen Effluvium: Rapid weight reduction and diets that are too restricted have been associated with a disease known as acute telogen effluvium (TE), which is one of the most prevalent causes of extensive hair loss on the scalp.

The onset of TE often comes around three months after a precipitating event such as fast weight loss, and it typically lasts approximately six months. After that point, the hair will most likely grow back according to the natural hair growth cycle.

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How To Encourage The Regrowth Of Hair In Toronto

Before attempting to cure hair loss, it is essential to determine the reason why it is happening to you in the first place. Keep in mind that fast weight loss or dietary shortages aren’t the only things that may cause hair loss. There are numerous more potential reasons as well as we’ve previously listed.

If the hair loss is the result of an insufficiency in one or more nutrients, such as zinc or iron, addressing the insufficiency or insufficiencies may prevent further hair loss and result in new hair growth.

It is imperative that you discontinue the diet as soon as possible and begin providing your body with the proper fuel, which should consist of a well-balanced diet that is abundant in foods that are high in nutrient density. If the problem is being caused by a diet that is too restrictive or a crash diet, neither of which provides your body with enough calories or nutrients, the diet should be stopped immediately.

If you have a nutritional shortage, eating food alone may not be enough to restore your nutrient levels. In this case, you might need to take a supplement instead. On the other hand, evidence shows that if you don’t have a vitamin shortage, taking supplements could not help prevent or treat hair loss. Your health care practitioner in Toronto should be able to determine the reason for your hair thinning and assist you in formulating a strategy to promote new hair growth.

It is of the utmost importance to adhere to this, as a lack of essential nutrients may not only result in hair loss, but it can also lead to a variety of other severe health problems down the road.

How To Prevent Hair Loss While Trying To Lose Excess Weight

During weight reduction, hair loss may occur as a result of nutrient deficiencies or fast weight loss. As a result, you need to make progress toward an objective of losing weight in a way that is both healthy and long-term. Dietary regimens that are very stringent or fad diets may be detrimental. Incorporating nutrient-dense foods into your diet and supplementing with nutrients that your diet is lacking is important if you adhere to a dietary pattern that restricts the types of foods you may eat, such as a vegetarian or vegan diet.

Before undergoing weight loss surgery, you should make sure that your levels of zinc, iron, and vitamin B12 are acceptable and that you are taking the appropriate supplements for each of these nutrients. The next step after the operation is to take any supplemental nutrition that your primary care physician or dietitian has recommended. This may help to lessen the amount of hair loss that occurs as a consequence of surgery or diets.

Why Should You Visit Nova Medical Hair Transplant In Toronto For Help?

Visit the Nova Medical Hair Transplant clinic in Toronto if you are experiencing significant hair loss as a result of your quest to lose weight or if you are interested in restoring your hair. We pride ourselves on having the most advanced therapies, a highly skilled team, and well-known physicians. At our clinic in Toronto we have the greatest hair transplant doctor and are able to cure most hair loss issues in an efficient manner. Contact us today by booking a one-on-one consultation or call us directly to speak to one of our hair loss experts. Check our success stories with previous patients.

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