GLP-1 drugs associated with higher hair loss risk

A new study has found that patients with type 2 diabetes using GLP-1 receptor agonist drugs, such as semaglutide (Ozempic, Wegovy) and tirzepatide (Mounjaro, Zepbound), face a higher risk of clinically recorded hair loss compared to those using other common diabetes medications. The research, published on July 22, 2026, in The BMJ, indicates that while the absolute risk remains low, the association is significant and may influence patient care and treatment decisions.

Conducted by researchers at the University of Pennsylvania, the study analyzed electronic health records from Penn Medicine spanning January 2019 through September 2024. It compared adults newly prescribed GLP-1 drugs to those starting SGLT2 inhibitors or DPP4 inhibitors. The final analysis involved over 50,000 patients across the cohorts.

After adjusting for factors like age, weight, and pre-existing conditions, the analysis showed GLP-1 drug use was associated with a 37% higher risk of alopecia compared to SGLT2 inhibitors and a 68% higher risk compared to DPP4 inhibitors. The elevated risk was driven primarily by nonscarring alopecia, a common and typically reversible form of hair loss where hair follicles...