Hair Loss during weight loss

lulu_00

I’ve recently lost 35 lbs in 3.5 months and am now noticing hair loss. I have a lot of hair but this way more then usual. I’ve had my thyroid and iron levels tested and both were clear. I read on other blogs that this could be weight loss related.

nutmegoreo

When I was in a steep calorie deficit, hair loss increased. It stopped after several more months eating at a more reasonable level. You averaged 10lbs per month lost, probably a higher deficit than was needed, but that would also depend on your starting weight. Eat more, focus on nutritional balance, including fats and proteins, and give it some time.

kimny72

35 lbs in 15 weeks or so is pretty fast. Do you have a lot of weight to lose?

Under eating or over exercising can certainly cause hair loss. Any kind of stress on your body can do that. Did your doctor know you were concerned about it?

Assuming no underlying health conditions, take a couple of weeks diet break, reduce your deficit to slow down your weight loss, and make sure you are at least hitting, if not exceeding, your protein and fat goals.

Stress reduction or coping techniques can help if the issue is more stress related than weight loss related.

snickerscharlie

Accelerated hair loss is rather common if someone is on a steep and prolonged calorie deficit.

If the body is being deprived of adequate nutrition (especially protein), it will literally sacrifice less survival-related functions (like hair) in order to try to preserve the essential ones. Excessive hair loss while dieting is usually an indicator that the body is being nutritionally stressed. Ignore it and the damage can escalate into areas that are definitely more health-threatening than just some hair loss.

LyndaBSS

You’re not eating enough, as the above members posted. Hair loss is a primary symptom.

Please take the advice you’ve been given.

RFC2549

I've always started shedding more when losing weight, even with slow weight loss.

snickerscharlie

RFC2549 wrote: »

I've always started shedding more when losing weight, even with slow weight loss.

Prioritizing adequate protein and fats within your deficit can help.

mbaker566

i also lose extra hair when eating any deficit.

kshama2001

lulu_00 wrote: »

I’ve recently lost 35 lbs in 3.5 months and am now noticing hair loss. I have a lot of hair but this way more then usual. I’ve had my thyroid and iron levels tested and both were clear. I read on other blogs that this could be weight loss related.

Are you at goal weight now and if not how many more pounds until goal? 35 pounds / 15 weeks = 2.3 pounds per week - very aggressive unless you have a lot of weight to lose.

lulu_00

Thank you for this. That helps. I typically hit my protein and fat targets on MFP but that may still not be enough. I have updated my daily calorie intake in the last few days so let’s hope this helps. I’m now stressed from the hair loss which I’m sure isn’t helping.


quote="RFC2549;c-44407979"]I've always started shedding more when losing weight, even with slow weight loss. [/quote]

snickerscharlie wrote: »

Accelerated hair loss is rather common if someone is on a steep and prolonged calorie deficit.

If the body is being deprived of adequate nutrition (especially protein), it will literally sacrifice less survival-related functions (like hair) in order to try to preserve the essential ones. Excessive hair loss while dieting is usually an indicator that the body is being nutritionally stressed. Ignore it and the damage can escalate into areas that are definitely more health-threatening than just some hair loss.

snickerscharlie wrote: »

Accelerated hair loss is rather common if someone is on a steep and prolonged calorie deficit.

If the body is being deprived of adequate nutrition (especially protein), it will literally sacrifice less survival-related functions (like hair) in order to try to preserve the essential ones. Excessive hair loss while dieting is usually an indicator that the body is being nutritionally stressed. Ignore it and the damage can escalate into areas that are definitely more health-threatening than just some hair loss.

JeromeBarry1

Hair is protein. When you don't eat enough protein, your body stops producing superfluous protein products, such as hair.

So look at that mess on your brush and decide if protein is superfluous.

seltzermint555

How old are you? I ask this because at 43, a lot of my same age friends are starting to see signs of perimenopause including very slightly thinning hair, a noticeably wider part, etc. I haven't had this particular thing yet but know changes are abundant at this stage of life.

I have no clue, you may be very young, male, etc...but just wanted to throw that out there as another possibility since your blood work sounds good.

katermari

my hair was to my butt three years ago, and today its to my shoulders, have i cut it NO! it breaks and falls off.

kshama2001

katermari wrote: »

my hair was to my butt three years ago, and today its to my shoulders, have i cut it NO! it breaks and falls off.

Wow, have you discussed this with your doctor? Not normal to be losing over a foot of hair to breakage.

katermari

kshama2001 wrote: »

katermari wrote: »

my hair was to my butt three years ago, and today its to my shoulders, have i cut it NO! it breaks and falls off.

Wow, have you discussed this with your doctor? Not normal to be losing over a foot of hair to breakage.

i got my CBC done last week, i get my results in half an hour. cannot wait.

rheddmobile

When I started losing it was at about the same rate, and I didn’t notice hair loss for about four months. Not only did I lose most of my hair but it grew back in curly, whereas before it was straight to wavy. It’s been two years at maintenance calories and it’s still not as long or full as it was. But then I also have anemia and thyroid problems, so several different things hit it at once.

Cautionary tale about losing too quickly! Hair loss doesn’t occur overnight. What happens is that the replacement process slows or stops, so you won’t see issues until the individual hairs start to finish their life cycles - four to six months. And by that time it’s too late to start eating better and save your hair!

RFC2549

snickerscharlie wrote: »

RFC2549 wrote: »

I've always started shedding more when losing weight, even with slow weight loss.

Prioritizing adequate protein and fats within your deficit can help.

Even then. I tend to reach or exceed those while rarely reaching carb limit. Been this way my whole life.

AnnPT77

RFC2549 wrote: »

snickerscharlie wrote: »

RFC2549 wrote: »

I've always started shedding more when losing weight, even with slow weight loss.

Prioritizing adequate protein and fats within your deficit can help.

Even then. I tend to reach or exceed those while rarely reaching carb limit. Been this way my whole life.

Keep in mind that what matters is absolute protein intake (grams), not actually percentage (which is what we set to get an MFP goal). If calorie goal is too low (i.e., if someone is losing too aggressively fast), then protein can be too low in absolute terms, even while meeting/exceeding the MFP protein goal. Ditto for fats.

I'm not saying that's true for you - you mentioned slow loss, after all - I'm just pointing out that in the context of the thread, meeting the MFP protein goal (if at very low calories) might not be the complete answer when it comes to protein adequacy.

DiscusTank5

I'm losing quite a bit of hair, too, but then I'm 43 and have thyroid issues. It's something I'm going to bring up with my Dr. later this week.