A new large analysis of data by US researchers has shown GLP-1 receptor agonists are associated with a high risk for several types of hair loss.
The study by researchers at George Washington University and presented at the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology 2025 Congress found high rates of telogen effluvium and androgenic alopecia among GLP-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1 RA) users, as well as non-scarring hair loss in general.
Telogen effluvium (TE) is temporary, non-scarring hair loss that causes excessive shedding of hair due to a stressor on the body, such as a high fever, surgery, childbirth, emotional stress or nutritional deficiency.
Androgenic alopecia (AGA) – also known as male or female pattern hair loss – is a genetically predetermined, progressive condition that causes hair thinning. In males, it presents as a receding hairline forming an ‘M’ shape and thinning at the crown; in females, it usually involves diffuse thinning of hair on top of the scalp.
In the study, no association was seen with alopecia areata (an auto-immune condition where the immune system attacks hair follicles, causing hair loss, typically in small, circular patches).
The research team examined data on 547,993 GLP-1 RA users aged 18-89 who had been treated with liraglutide (Saxenda and others), semaglutide (Ozempic, Wegovy), dulaglutide (Trulicity), exenatide (Byetta and others), lixisenaride (Lyxumia, Adlyxin) and tirzepatide (Monjaro, Zepbound) and did not have a history of prior hair loss; there were also 547,993 GLP-1 RA non-users in the analysis.
Over the 10-year period of data obtained, incidences of TE, AGA and non-scarring hair loss (a composite measure of TE, AGA, and AA) all increased to a greater extent in the GLP-1 RA users than in non-users.
At 6 months, GLP-1 RA use was associated with a 26 percent increased chance of non-scarring hair loss and 62 percent increased chance of developing AGA. At 12 months, the chances of developing TE were a 76 percent higher with GLP-1 RA use, and the odds for having AGA and non- scarring hair loss were 64 percent and 40 percent higher.
Study co-author Yagiz Matthew Akiska told medcsape.com: ‘Hair loss is an emerging, real-world side effect of GLP-1 RAs. For many patients, it becomes important as a side effect, because they’re also trying to lose weight, they’re concerned about their appearance, they’re trying to control their diabetes. On top of it, they’re dealing potentially with hair loss, which can be very debilitating for them.’
