Genetic Link Found Between Weight Loss Drugs and Male-Pattern Hair Loss
News provided byCourierPR · 2 min read
NEW YORK, Sept. 3, 2026 /CourierPR/ -- In a groundbreaking study published in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology, researchers from NYU Langone Health have identified a genetic link between the use of weight loss drugs and an increased risk of male-pattern hair loss. The study, led by Dr. Lynn Petukhova, an assistant professor at NYU Grossman School of Medicine, found that men already at risk for genetic hair loss have a 7 percent higher likelihood of experiencing hair thinning if they use drugs like Ozempic, Wegovy, and Zepbound for type 2 diabetes and obesity.
The research focused on the GLP1R gene, which naturally increases the body's levels of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor proteins. The study compared the presence of these genes in men with androgenetic alopecia, a form of hereditary hair loss, with those who use GLP-1 medications. The findings show that the GLP1R genes, which are associated with higher levels of GLP-1 receptor proteins, are more common in men with androgenetic alopecia.
The study involved analyzing large genetic databases, including the eQTLGen database of 31,684 individuals and the Complex Traits Genetics group database of 205,327 individuals, both predominantly of White ethnicity. The researchers adjusted their analysis to account for other known risk factors for hair loss, such as hypertension and insulin resistance, and found that the increased risk remained at 7 percent.
"This study provides the first genetic evidence linking GLP-1 use to an increased risk of male-pattern hair loss," said Dr. Petukhova. "Our findings suggest that individuals could be screened for their risk of hair loss before being prescribed GLP-1 medications, and potentially even receive preventive treatments."
The study also hints at the possibility of developing combination treatments to prevent hair loss in GLP-1 users. "We could envision these findings leading to some GLP-1 users being prescribed combination treatments to prevent hair loss, such as minoxidil or some other drug," added Dr. Petukhova.
Androgenetic alopecia, a common form of hereditary hair loss, affects approximately half of White American males over 50 and a similar number of White American females over 50, particularly those who are postmenopausal. An estimated 12 percent of Americans have used GLP-1 drugs for weight loss, including one-fifth of women aged 50 to 64, according to surveys. Since the first GLP-1 drug, Ozempic, was approved by the FDA in 2020, prescriptions for the medication have more than tripled.
Funding for the study was provided by National Institutes of Health grants R01AR080796 and K01AR075111. Dr. Petukhova and her colleagues involved in the study included co-investigators Jerry Shapiro, MD, and Kristen Lo Sicco, MD, as well as Derek Mass, MBA, Mary Casagrande, MPH, and Poppy Gould, PhD. Other study co-investigators were Ravi Ramesur, MD, PhD, at the University of Pennsylvania and King's College London, and Atlas Khan, PhD, at Columbia University.
NYU Langone Health, known for its rigorous focus on quality, has consistently ranked among the nation's top medical centers. The study's findings could have significant implications for patients considering GLP-1 medications, potentially allowing for more personalized treatment plans.