GLP-1 weight loss drugs have been linked to temporary hair loss in some users, a side effect now drawing more attention as U.S. use of the medicines climbs. [1]
Branneisha Cooper said she began noticing significant hair loss about a year after starting the GLP-1 injection Mounjaro in late 2022. She said her provider told her the faster weight loss made possible by the drug can trigger shedding: "What my provider had told me is that since you're on the medication that's allowed you to lose weight at a faster rate, that's what can cause hair loss." [1]
Hair loss is considered a possible side effect of several GLP-1 drugs, including Eli Lilly's Zepbound and Mounjaro, and Novo Nordisk's Ozempic and Wegovy. [1]
The rise in use has also pushed up demand for hair treatment products among people reporting shedding, according to the report. [1]
A KFF Health Tracking Poll found nearly 13% of U.S. adults were currently taking a GLP-1 drug in early 2026. U.S. use of the medicines has more than doubled since early 2024, and JPMorgan estimates 25 million Americans will be using them by 2030, up from 5 million in 2023. [1]
Cooper said more people are now asking how to deal with the problem. "There has been an increase of people wanting to know how to tackle it, but it's also a lot of people who are wanting to know how they can possibly prevent it, and that's just something that I don't have the answer to," she said. [1]
