Can Following A Weight Loss Diet Cause Hair Loss?

When your body does not obtain what it requires to stay healthy, adverse effects such as hair loss might develop.

 
Sambhav Kumar
Written by: Sambhav KumarUpdated at: Jan 27, 2023 14:37 IST
Can Following A Weight Loss Diet Cause Hair Loss?

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Your body is sensitive to nutrient deficiencies, stress, and hormonal changes, all of which can result from rapid weight loss, restrictive diets.

Hair loss with weight loss is frequently caused by vitamin inadequacies and the additional impacts that abrupt and quick weight loss can have on your body.

Why Does Hair Loss Occur After Losing Weight?

According to research, abrupt weight reduction and restrictive diets have been related to acute telogen effluvium, one of the most common causes of scalp hair loss.

Research says other types of hair loss have been connected to weight reduction and nutrient shortages associated with restricted diets. Chronic telogen effluvium, which lasts more than six months, and androgenic alopecia, often known as male or female pattern baldness, are some of the examples.

Your hair requires sufficient calories and nutrients to grow properly. When your body does not obtain what it requires, adverse effects such as hair loss might develop.

Relation Between Dieting And Hair Loss

Crash dieting, often known as yo-yo dieting, is a very low-calorie diet that allows you to lose weight quickly. Many studies have connected hair loss to rapid weight loss, calorie restriction, vitamin shortages, and psychological stress occur after following a crash diet. 

Also read: Crash Dieting Side Effects: Here’s How The Body Suffers When We Crash Diet

For example, a 2015 research of 180 women with diffuse hair loss discovered that iron deficiency and psychological stress were the most common causes of their hair loss. Crash diets were the main reason in eight of the cases.

Amino acids, which are the building blocks of protein, are required for hair development. This is due to the fact that amino acids are required for the formation of keratin, the major structural protein of hair.

Protein malnutrition, or a lack of protein in your diet, can cause hair loss. As a result, if you follow a low-calorie weight loss plan that is deficient in protein, you may have hair loss.

Restriction diets that eliminate entire food groups, like crash diets, can induce hair loss due to nutrient deficit or stress. Hair loss has been linked to iron, zinc, protein, selenium, and essential fatty acid deficiencies. It has also been linked to very low-calorie diets. Significant stress, which is sometimes associated with restricted eating, has been linked to hair loss as well.

Is Hair Loss Harmful?

Hair loss is not dangerous in itself, but the underlying causes of hair loss following weight reduction can cause problems. Nutrient shortages, for example, and extreme calorie restriction can have serious health repercussions such as iron deficiency anaemia, muscle loss, and more.

Iron deficiency anaemia, in addition to potentially causing hair loss, can result in reduced cognitive function, infertility, heart issues, depression, and altered immune system function.

Also read: Abs Are Made In Kitchen, Not Gym: 5 Dieting Hacks You Must Know

Calorie and protein restriction can potentially have hazardous side effects, such as reduced muscular function, heart difficulties, digestive problems, diminished immune function, and an increased risk of depression.

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