It’s a condition that’s been around as long as humans have been hirsute, but thinning hair has been making headlines over the past year. This is in part thanks to the global increase in the use of GLP-1 weight-loss medicines, a class of drugs that includes semaglutides (Ozempic and Wegovy) and tirzepatides (Mounjaro).
Conversations about thinning hair have traditionally centred on age, hormonal changes, genetics, stress levels and lifestyle, but these days, online forums are awash with people who use GLP-1s, sharing stories about hair loss along with their weight loss.
Hair thinning and hair loss differ according to several factors, individual and environmental, and men and women experience the condition, known as alopecia, differently.
“Hair thinning tends to become more common after the age of 40, although younger individuals may also be affected due to lifestyle or medical factors,” says Dr Mohammed Zahir, specialist dermatology and cosmetology, Aster Clinic, Bur Dubai. “Early signs differ by gender. In men, thinning usually starts with a receding hairline and hair loss around the crown. In women, a common indicator is the widening of the central hair part, accompanied by overall thinning, particularly on the top of the scalp.”
Semaglutides and hair loss
GLP-1s have been used since 2005 to treat type 2 diabetes, but it wasn’t until 2014 that the link between the drug and weight loss was established. In 2017, Ozempic was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for use in adults with type 2 diabetes, and since then, semaglutides have become household names.
The relative newness of the medication when used for weight loss means the connection between semaglutides and hair loss is so far largely anecdotal, although a new study out of Canada in March 2025, Risk of Hair Loss with Semaglutide for Weight Loss, which focused on Wegovy users, established a firmer connection.
“We adjusted for age, sex, geographic location, depression, steroid use, hypothyroidism, polycystic ovary syndrome and anaemia,” states the report lead by Dr Mohit Sodhi, a resident in emergency medicine at the University of British Columbia. “The incidence of hair loss was higher among the semaglutide group than the active comparator… Our results demonstrate an increased risk of hair loss with semaglutide in women.”
Little is known about why using GLP-1s can lead to hair thinning or loss, with a September 2024 study, GLP-1 agonists and hair loss: A call for further investigation noting: “Some propose potential risks such as disrupted hair growth cycles or premature androgenetic alopecia (AGA), while others suggest benefits linked to improved insulin sensitivity and enhanced scalp blood circulation. Despite these theoretical underpinnings, clinical evidence linking GLP-1 agonists to hair loss remains sparse.”
“Hair thinning can indeed occur as a side effect of GLP-1 medications, but it is typically not a direct result of the medication itself,” says Dr Dilruba Begum Mujavar Shaik, specialist dermatologist at RAK Hospital. “Instead, it is often linked to rapid weight loss associated with these treatments. This phenomenon is known as ‘telogen effluvium’, a temporary condition where hair follicles enter a resting phase due to physical stress on the body. The good news is that it’s usually temporary. Hair growth typically resumes within three to six months after the body adjusts and weight stabilises.”
Why men and women experience hair thinning differently
Hair loss or thinning is caused by an array of factors and differs by gender, with men and women experiencing hair loss in different ways.
“Men typically experience androgenetic alopecia, commonly known as male pattern baldness, which presents as receding hairlines and thinning on the crown due to genetic sensitivity to DHT [dihydrotestosterone, a hormone that plays a key role in male sexual development],” says Dr Jasmin Malek, women’s health and hormone therapy expert at Euromed Clinic Dubai.
“In women, hair thinning is more diffuse, often a general reduction in volume rather than complete bald spots. Female pattern hair loss is influenced by declining oestrogen and progesterone levels, especially around perimenopause and menopause, which disrupt the natural protection these hormones provide to hair follicles.”
Other factors include genetics, whereby thinning hair is hereditary, chemical hair treatments, environmental aspects such as infection, weather and water; underlying health conditions including anaemia, hypothyroidism and vitamin deficiency and pregnancy.
Effects of stress on hair loss
“Stress is more than just a mental burden – it has physical consequences, including on our hair,” says Dr Victoria Mountford, psychology lead and eating disorder service lead at Sage Clinics. “When we experience ongoing psychological stress, the body releases higher levels of cortisol, the stress hormone. This disrupts the normal hair growth cycle, often pushing more hair into the resting phase, which leads to increased shedding.”
She adds: “In fast-paced environments like the UAE, where many of us juggle demanding careers and personal responsibilities, chronic stress is a common – but often overlooked – contributor to hair issues.”
Tackling the underlying causes of stress is key to ending the cycle of stress-related hair loss, with Dr Zahir noting: "Fortunately, this type of hair loss is often temporary and reversible with proper stress management and care.”
Experts suggest relaxation techniques, a balanced diet and professional guidance as the best ways to manage stress.
“Mindful prayer or meditation, breathwork, daily movement, screen-free wind-down time, and connection all have proven stress-relieving benefits,” says Dr Mountford. “Making sure your diet includes protein, zinc and biotin will support hair health.”
‘My clients’ hair has changed with weight loss drugs’
“I have indeed noticed an increase in hair loss due to weight loss injections,” says Maria Dowling, founder of Mariadowling Salon Dubai, of her clients. “The negative impacts of these injections on hair can vary between clients. I have two clients who had really curly hair, and as a result of the jabs, their hair has lost the curl pattern and instead is now frizzy. In other instances, clients have simply lost hair.”
Medically, hair loss is treated with oral or topical medications, hormonal therapy, dietary changes and environmental adjustments.
Dr Malek says: “The best approach is multifactorial and tailored to the individual. In menopausal women, restoring hormonal balance with BHRT can reduce shedding and promote regrowth. Nutritional support such as iron, zinc, biotin, vitamin D and amino acids like L-lysine are all crucial for hair structure and cycling. Advanced regenerative options include PRP, Exosomes, and Regenera Activa – minimally invasive treatments now gaining popularity for restoring scalp health.”
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Sholto Byrnes on Myanmar politics
Where to apply
Applicants should send their completed applications - CV, covering letter, sample(s) of your work, letter of recommendation - to Nick March, Assistant Editor in Chief at The National and UAE programme administrator for the Rosalynn Carter Fellowships for Mental Health Journalism, by 5pm on April 30, 2020.
Please send applications to nmarch@thenational.ae and please mark the subject line as “Rosalynn Carter Fellowship for Mental Health Journalism (UAE programme application)”.
The local advisory board will consider all applications and will interview a short list of candidates in Abu Dhabi in June 2020. Successful candidates will be informed before July 30, 2020.
Results
Men's finals
45kg:Duc Le Hoang (VIE) beat Zolfi Amirhossein (IRI) points 29-28. 48kg: Naruephon Chittra (THA) beat Joseph Vanlalhruaia (IND) TKO round 2.
51kg: Sakchai Chamchit (THA) beat Salam Al Suwaid (IRQ) TKO round 1. 54kg: Veerasak Senanue (THA) beat Huynh Hoang Phi (VIE) 30-25.
57kg: Almaz Sarsembekov (KAZ) beat Tak Chuen Suen (MAC) RSC round 3. 60kg: Yerkanat Ospan (KAZ) beat Ibrahim Bilal (UAE) 30-27.
63.5kg: Abil Galiyev (KAZ) beat Nouredine Samir (UAE) 29-28. 67kg: Narin Wonglakhon (THA) beat Mohammed Mardi (UAE) 29-28.
71kg: Amine El Moatassime (UAE) w/o Shaker Al Tekreeti (IRQ). 75kg: Youssef Abboud (LBN) w/o Ayoob Saki (IRI).
81kg: Ilyass Habibali (UAE) beat Khaled Tarraf (LBN) 29-28. 86kg: Ali Takaloo (IRI) beat Emil Umayev (KAZ) 30-27.
91kg: Hamid Reza Kordabadi (IRI) beat Mohamad Osaily (LBN) RSC round 1. 91-plus kg: Mohammadrezapoor Shirmohammad (IRI) beat Abdulla Hasan (IRQ) 30-27.
Women's finals
45kg: Somruethai Siripathum (THA) beat Ha Huu Huynh (VIE) 30-27. 48kg: Thanawan Thongduang (THA) beat Colleen Saddi (PHI) 30-27.
51kg: Wansawang Srila Or (THA) beat Thuy Phuong Trieu (VIE) 29-28. 54kg: Ruchira Wongsriwo (THA) beat Zeinab Khatoun (LBN) 30-26.
57kg: Sara Idriss (LBN) beat Zahra Nasiri Bargh (IRI) 30-27. 60kg: Kaewrudee Kamtakrapoom (THA) beat Sedigheh Hajivand (IRI) TKO round 2.
63.5kg: Nadiya Moghaddam (IRI) w/o Reem Al Issa (JOR).
The Bio
Name: Lynn Davison
Profession: History teacher at Al Yasmina Academy, Abu Dhabi
Children: She has one son, Casey, 28
Hometown: Pontefract, West Yorkshire in the UK
Favourite book: The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
Favourite Author: CJ Sansom
Favourite holiday destination: Bali
Favourite food: A Sunday roast
Cry Macho
Director: Clint Eastwood
Stars: Clint Eastwood, Dwight Yoakam
Rating:**
Three ways to limit your social media use
Clinical psychologist, Dr Saliha Afridi at The Lighthouse Arabia suggests three easy things you can do every day to cut back on the time you spend online.
1. Put the social media app in a folder on the second or third screen of your phone so it has to remain a conscious decision to open, rather than something your fingers gravitate towards without consideration.
2. Schedule a time to use social media instead of consistently throughout the day. I recommend setting aside certain times of the day or week when you upload pictures or share information.
3. Take a mental snapshot rather than a photo on your phone. Instead of sharing it with your social world, try to absorb the moment, connect with your feeling, experience the moment with all five of your senses. You will have a memory of that moment more vividly and for far longer than if you take a picture of it.
Juliot Vinolia’s checklist for adopting alternate-day fasting
- Don’t do it more than once in three days
- Don’t go under 700 calories on fasting days
- Ensure there is sufficient water intake, as the body can go in dehydration mode
- Ensure there is enough roughage (fibre) in the food on fasting days as well
- Do not binge on processed or fatty foods on non-fasting days
- Complement fasting with plant-based foods, fruits, vegetables, seafood. Cut out processed meats and processed carbohydrates
- Manage your sleep
- People with existing gastric or mental health issues should avoid fasting
- Do not fast for prolonged periods without supervision by a qualified expert
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
Arrogate's winning run
1. Maiden Special Weight, Santa Anita Park, June 5, 2016
2. Allowance Optional Claiming, Santa Anita Park, June 24, 2016
3. Allowance Optional Claiming, Del Mar, August 4, 2016
4. Travers Stakes, Saratoga, August 27, 2016
5. Breeders' Cup Classic, Santa Anita Park, November 5, 2016
6. Pegasus World Cup, Gulfstream Park, January 28, 2017
7. Dubai World Cup, Meydan Racecourse, March 25, 2017
The bio
Favourite vegetable: Broccoli
Favourite food: Seafood
Favourite thing to cook: Duck l'orange
Favourite book: Give and Take by Adam Grant, one of his professors at University of Pennsylvania
Favourite place to travel: Home in Kuwait.
Favourite place in the UAE: Al Qudra lakes
Six large-scale objects on show
- Concrete wall and windows from the now demolished Robin Hood Gardens housing estate in Poplar
- The 17th Century Agra Colonnade, from the bathhouse of the fort of Agra in India
- A stagecloth for The Ballet Russes that is 10m high – the largest Picasso in the world
- Frank Lloyd Wright’s 1930s Kaufmann Office
- A full-scale Frankfurt Kitchen designed by Margarete Schütte-Lihotzky, which transformed kitchen design in the 20th century
- Torrijos Palace dome
Profile
Company name: Jaib
Started: January 2018
Co-founders: Fouad Jeryes and Sinan Taifour
Based: Jordan
Sector: FinTech
Total transactions: over $800,000 since January, 2018
Investors in Jaib's mother company Alpha Apps: Aramex and 500 Startups
Bert van Marwijk factfile
Born: May 19 1952
Place of birth: Deventer, Netherlands
Playing position: Midfielder
Teams managed:
1998-2000 Fortuna Sittard
2000-2004 Feyenoord
2004-2006 Borussia Dortmund
2007-2008 Feyenoord
2008-2012 Netherlands
2013-2014 Hamburg
2015-2017 Saudi Arabia
2018 Australia
Major honours (manager):
2001/02 Uefa Cup, Feyenoord
2007/08 KNVB Cup, Feyenoord
World Cup runner-up, Netherlands
The bio
Date of Birth: April 25, 1993
Place of Birth: Dubai, UAE
Marital Status: Single
School: Al Sufouh in Jumeirah, Dubai
University: Emirates Airline National Cadet Programme and Hamdan University
Job Title: Pilot, First Officer
Number of hours flying in a Boeing 777: 1,200
Number of flights: Approximately 300
Hobbies: Exercising
Nicest destination: Milan, New Zealand, Seattle for shopping
Least nice destination: Kabul, but someone has to do it. It’s not scary but at least you can tick the box that you’ve been
Favourite place to visit: Dubai, there’s no place like home
MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW
Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
Director: Jesse Armstrong
Rating: 3.5/5
Things Heard & Seen
Directed by: Shari Springer Berman, Robert Pulcini
Starring: Amanda Seyfried, James Norton
2/5
Charlotte Gainsbourg
Rest
(Because Music)
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
