The short version
- A 2025 joint advisory lists hair loss among the less common side effects of GLP-1 medicines. Its trial table shows 3% on semaglutide 2.4 mg and 5% on tirzepatide 15 mg, against 1% on placebo.
- The same advisory lists excessive hair loss among the signs of frank nutrient deficiency, next to fatigue beyond what you'd expect and muscle weakness.
- MedlinePlus names a low-protein diet and poor nutrition among the causes of hair loss.
- Food can cover the basics: protein at each meal and enough variety. Ask your care team before adding supplements.
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Finding more hair in the shower drain can be unsettling, especially when the number on the scale is also changing. This guide covers what a 2025 joint advisory says about hair loss on a GLP-1, which food basics are worth getting right, and when to bring it up with your care team. It can’t tell you why your hair is shedding. Your doctor can.
Can a GLP-1 cause hair loss?
Hair loss is listed as a less common side effect in a 2025 joint advisory, so it’s worth mentioning to your prescriber.
The advisory comes from four nutrition and obesity medicine groups (ACLM, ASN, OMA and TOS). Its table of trial side effects shows hair loss in 3% of people on semaglutide 2.4 mg and 5% on tirzepatide 15 mg, against 1% on placebo. The advisory doesn’t say why it happens, and we won’t guess.
Could not eating enough be part of it?
It can be. The advisory lists excessive hair loss among the signs of frank nutrient deficiency.
The other signs on its list are fatigue beyond what you’d expect, skin flakiness or itching, muscle weakness, poor wound healing and unusual bruising. MedlinePlus also names a low-protein diet and poor nutrition among the causes of hair loss.
On a GLP-1 it’s easy to eat much less without noticing. The advisory points out that reduced appetite can make enough protein hard to reach. If your meals have shrunk a lot, see how many calories you need on a GLP-1 and what to eat when you’re not hungry.
What can you eat to cover the basics?
Aim for protein at every meal, then a wide mix of foods across the week.
- Protein first. The advisory suggests eating protein-rich foods first in a meal, and lists lean poultry, fish and seafood, and eggs among its examples. Work out your own number with the protein calculator and read protein on a GLP-1.
- Variety. Beans, lentils, nuts, whole grains, dairy or fortified alternatives, fruit and vegetables each bring different vitamins and minerals. See vitamins and minerals on a GLP-1.
- Small and often. If big plates are too much, smaller meals and snacks still add up. High-protein snacks has easy options.
Try this
Scrambled eggs and toastGreek yogurt with berries and nutsLentil soupSalmon or canned tuna with riceCottage cheese and fruitDoes it grow back?
MedlinePlus says that for normal shedding, in most people those hairs grow back.
It doesn’t cover every type of hair loss, so a doctor is the right person to tell you which kind you have. Timelines vary, and we don’t promise one.
Should you take a hair supplement?
Ask your care team first, because food comes first and a supplement isn’t needed for everyone.
The advisory doesn’t recommend a hair supplement. A blood test can show whether you’re actually low in something. Your prescriber can say what’s worth checking.
How does Imi help?
Imi takes care of the food side, so the basics are easier to hit on low-appetite days.
- Meals planned around your targets. Imi builds your week from your saved recipes, with protein at the top of every day.
- Quick check-ins. Track side effects and food noise in a tap, and Imi plans gentler meals when you log nausea.
- Easy swaps. Ask Imi to “make dinner gentler” and it swaps the meal for you.
Imi helps with food. Your prescriber handles your medication and any tests. To start, work out your protein target or read eating well on a GLP-1.
