Hair loss is a common problem. There are lots of underlying reasons for hair loss. One of these is being overweight. Studies show that the most common genetic type of hair loss in men is related to increased risk of cardiovascular disease and metabolic syndrome.
It is not precisely known whether obesity is related to genetic hair loss alone. However, recently a study has been carried out to prove this relationship. In a study among 142 men who have genetic hair loss problems in Taiwan, 40% of the men with hair loss had a high body mass index and were above the obesity limit. Statistical data shows that men who have severe hair loss and baldness are generally fatter than other men.
After other variables such as age, smoking, and hypertension are regulated, the risk of hair loss is found to be 3.5 times higher in obese men than in men with average weight. When obesity begins to appear under the age of thirty, hair loss can develop five times more too.
Hair Loss after Obesity Surgery
Hair loss is an extremely common condition after obesity surgery. This situation is present at an average of 40% of obesity patients. It is a type of normal hair cycle. This shedding in patients usually goes away in six months. This loss of hair can be considered as a common condition due to stress, diseases, and malnutrition.
Hair loss that occurs after obesity surgery usually occurs because the patients do not get the necessary nutrients and vitamins. The situation we are talking about here is not vitamin deficiency but sudden changes in the absorption of nutrients and calories after the operation. This sudden change creates a shock effect on the patient’s body, causing hair loss.
The primary purpose of the obesity surgical operation is to balance the body weight. However, those who are overweight tend to have excessive consumption of food. This means that the calorie balance will change after the operation. Therefore, this change in the body directs the vitamins to other parts of the body, creating a shock effect on the patient. For this reason, hair loss occurs.
How to Prevent This Type of Hair Loss
Hair loss occurs within three to six months after obesity surgery. After the operation, when the patient’s weight loss and nutrition are regulated, the hair loss stops. In procedures such as gastric bypass, the risk of hair loss is higher than in other operations.
People who have undergone obesity surgery should take the necessary vitamins regularly by following the diet provided by the surgeon and their dieticians. This is in order to prevent problems that may occur after surgery. These recommendations are crucial for achieving a healthy body. When the weight loss process is over, the hair will regain its strength. Also, patients need to take multivitamins containing sufficient amounts of vitamin B, folate, zinc, and biotin.