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Crash dieting

The link between crash dieting and hair loss has been documented in research as far back as the 1970s ( 4 ).

Your hair needs adequate calories and nutrients to grow properly. So, when your body doesn’t receive what it needs, side effects like hair loss can occur.

Many studies have linked hair loss to rapid weight loss, calorie restriction, nutrient deficiencies, and psychological stress — all commonly in people who are following crash diets.

For example, a 2015 study in 180 women with diffuse hair loss found that the most common causes of hair loss were iron deficiency and psychological stress. In eight of the cases, crash diets were the cause ( 5 ).

Poorly planned diets, such as crash diets, can lead to deficiencies in essential fatty acids, zinc, protein, and overall calories, all of which can lead to hair loss ( 1 ).

How to facilitate hair regrowth

If you’re experiencing hair loss, it’s critical that you identify the cause before you try to treat it.

Remember, hair loss can have many causes, not just rapid weight loss or nutrient deficiencies.

If the hair loss is caused by a deficiency in one or more nutrients like zinc or iron, correcting the deficiency or deficiencies may stop the loss and lead to hair regrowth ( 1 ).

If you have a nutrient deficiency, food alone may not be enough to replenish your nutrient stores and a supplement may be necessary. However, research suggests that if you don’t have a nutrient deficiency, supplements might not benefit hair loss ( 1 ).

A healthcare provider can identify the cause of your hair loss and help you come up with a plan to get your hair growing again.

Summary

To prevent hair loss, avoid crash and restrictive diets, fuel your body properly, and supplement before and after weight loss surgery. Work with a qualified healthcare provider to identify the cause of hair loss and to find a plan to facilitate hair regrowth.

Hair loss during or after weight loss can be caused by a number of factors, including nutrient deficiencies.

However, hair loss can also be caused by underlying health issues, so it’s important not to self-diagnose your hair loss as weight loss-related.

Work with a qualified healthcare provider such as a doctor or registered dietitian to identify the cause of your hair loss and to come up with a treatment plan to facilitate hair regrowth.

2. Accredited dermatologists are specialists in Hair Loss Treatments

A google search on “hair loss treatments” throws up myriad trichology, herbal aesthetic and medi-spa centres offering solutions to treat all scalp and hair problems. As a patient once remarked “ I wish I had known to see a dermatologist earlier for my hair loss treatments.” Before I go on, lets first qualify what counts as hair loss.

Anything between 60–100 strands of hair a day falls within the normal range but if you are used to losing say 30–50 strands usually and suddenly notice an increase in hair fall, that’s something to be alert to. Some symptoms: more hair in the drain, floor, on combs and the pillowcase. Ladies may notice having a wider parting and a thinner ponytail. Do you have a family member suffering from hair loss? Be alert to early symptoms of hair loss and seek a dermatologist’s advice for prompt diagnosis, hair loss treatments and prevention.

Weight loss surgeries

Weight loss surgery is associated with rapid weight loss and commonly causes deficiencies in protein, vitamins, and/or minerals, which in turn can spark hair loss ( 8 , 9 , 10 ).

For example, a 2018 study that included 50 people who underwent sleeve gastrectomy, a surgical procedure that removes a large portion of the stomach, observed hair loss in 56% of the participants. Hair loss was more common in women ( 9 ).

Notably, the participants with hair loss had much lower levels of zinc and vitamin B12 both before and after surgery ( 9 ).

In a 2020 study in 112 women who had undergone sleeve gastrectomy, 72% of participants experienced hair loss after surgery. In 79% of those who reported hair loss, the loss started 3–4 months after surgery and lasted an average of 5.5 months ( 11 ).

In addition to reducing stomach capacity, some types of weight loss surgery allow food to bypass part of the intestines, leading to malabsorption of nutrients and increasing the risk for deficiencies ( 12 ).