Hair loss

Yes. I lost 60 pounds fairly slowly years ago, ate healthy, exercised, but definitely not excessively. My hair was shiny, thick and healthy.
Early 2023 I got sick, barely ate, lost 30 pounds quickly. My hair fell out, my skin looked like an alligator purse and fell off, I was tired all the time. It wasn't a good thing. Don't lose too quickly, even if you can. Stay healthy!

Lost weight. Invested in good store bought hair.

I'm F, 68. My hair has been thinning as I age, maybe a little bit faster since it grew long during the pandemic. (The weight of the hair causes more breakage; the tangles contribute, too.) It's more a familial thing, though, I think, in my case: My mother's hair got somewhat thin, and she stayed at a pretty steady weight (not super slim, either).

I didn't particularly notice hair loss associated with weight loss (50-some pounds), except maybe a bit after I accidentally lost too fast at first (because it turns out I need more calories than MFP estimates). I did and do make it a point to get good nutrition, including adequate protein.

I strongly suspect that fast loss and poor nutrition will cause or accelerate hair breakage/loss. Those can also have other negative consequences, so I'd recommend sensibly moderate loss rate, and good nutrition for sure.

I lose hair (extra shedding) even after I lose 10 lb. Typically it’s when I return to maintenance calories. Dermatologist has told me it’s normal and from the stress the body felt when in a deficit. Dermatologist did NOT tell me it was because I was doing something wrong or malnourished.

cmriverside wrote: »

I lost a lot of hair during the initial part of my weight loss when I was trying to eat at 1200 and not getting particularly good nutrition. It was alarming. It didn't happen at first, it took about 3-4 months for me to notice.

Since I've been in maintenance (15+ years now) my hair has been really healthy.

I disagree with this, though:

The weight of the hair causes more breakage; the tangles contribute, too.

I'm the same age - I've had long hair for most of my life. Middle of my back. I don't think the "weight" of it causes breakage. If that were true, no one would be able to have a full head of long hair, and I know many (older) women with long hair. I think it's more about genetics, aging, and nutrition. Can't prove it...but I don't believe that quote.

I was literally saying what my own personal hair does, in that sentence you quoted.

Maybe it's because it's very fine hair, don't know. But when it's long, I get all kinds of shorter flyaways because it breaks off. I've worn it long the majority of my life, too. It never has been willing to grow past my shoulder blades, and the hair is less dense towards the end, i.e. braid quickly gets skinnier along its length.

And then I said I thought it was familial, i.e. genetics, not weight loss. After earlier saying it was an aging thing.

That was not a prediction about anyone else's hair, which I'd hoped was clear from the full post.

Maggiem51 wrote: »

Hello all. I recently read an article about hair loss with weight loss and just wondered for those of you that have lost 50 lbs + did you notice a significant hair loss. TIA

Nope.

In all seriousness, hair loss is often associated with VLCD (very low calorie diets).

If you put “hair loss” in the search bar, you’ll get all kinds of cautionary tales direct from members who lost hair and had other health issues because they wanted to lose weight fast.

Fast weight loss can bite you in the bottom in so many ways- hair loss, heart issues, muscle loss, not to mention those who lose fast typically regain just as quickly.

Tortoise and the hare, once again.

In my 30's I lost over 50 pounds with no hair loss. I lost it very slowly.

When I was anemic I had hair loss. Iron and other deficiencies can cause hair loss. I suggest having blood tests for deficiencies done rather than supplement with iron, as too much can be problematic as well. I'm deficient in D in the colder months but not in the warmer months, so I only take it late fall - early spring.

Rapid weight loss is one way to increase the odds of deficiencies. Here's a suggested rate of loss: