ITV’S Dr Amir Khan has spoken about the hair loss people may experience when taking weight loss injections and how to reduce the risk of it happening. The doctor has spoken about weight loss drugs in detail previously and today, he took to Instagram to share further guidance.
The mass rollout of weight loss injections on the NHS in England began in June. It means GPs are allowed to prescribe the drugs for the first time. Around 220,000 people are expected to receive Mounjaro, also known as tirzepatide.
The drug is an antidiabetic drug which lowers blood sugar levels and and slows down how quickly food is digested. Mounjaro will be prescribed to severely overweight people who also suffer from a range of other health problems. It will be made by Lilly, through the NHS over the next three years.
Prior to the NHS roll out, data suggested around 1.5 million people in the UK were already taking weight loss drugs, which may have been prescribed through specialist weight loss services or via private prescription.
On Instagram, Dr Khan asked people taking weight loss injections if they were “suddenly” finding more hair in their hairbrush or collecting “tumbleweeds” in the shower drain. He reassured these people “don’t” panic, before explaining how it happens and how to reduce it.
Dr Khan explained: “The injections themselves are directly causing the hair loss. What’s happening is something called telogen effluvium. Your body shifts your hair into the shedding phase because it’s stressed from the rapid weight loss.”
The three main triggers outlined by the ITV doctor are suddenly cutting your calories and your body thinks it’s “starving”, so your body prioritises essential organs, instead of your hair. Another reason your hair may be falling out is you may not be getting enough protein.
The health expert advises: “Hair is made of keratin, that’s a protein. So if you are not eating at least 60 to 80 grams of protein a day your hair follicles literally slow production.” A third trigger may be your “nutrition dipping”, essential vitamins including iron, vitamin D and B12 may drop when you eat less.
The hair loss is temporary, Dr Khan says anyone experiencing this can “absolutely” minimise it. The tips offered by the doctor include:
- Don’t crash diet – aim for steady weight loss and remember to include nutritious food
- Hit your protein target – a minimum of one gram per kilo of your body weight
- Take nutrient support – you might need extra iron and vitamin C if your levels are low
- Look after your scalp by gentle brushing and avoiding tight hairstyles
Dr Khan has warned about people using the “black market” to gain access to weight-loss injects including Mounjaro. Thousands of people who could benefit from the weight loss jab on the NHS are missing out due to funding issues, figures suggest.
He previously said on Lorraine that there are many people who might be able to get an injection, but just can’t, telling the presenter “And that is leading people to go to the black market for these drugs.”
The warning continued: “I have some patients who have got it on the black market, just syringes, they’re not even labelled and they have other thing in.”
He recalled his sister who works in A&E, see to people who were sold weight loss medication which turned out to be insulin, he said “just not worth it.”