Can Foundayo Cause Hair Loss?

You've been losing weight, amazing! That was exactly what you signed up for, and you probably weren't expecting much else beyond that.

You may have prepared yourself for some of the more familiar digestive side effects, such as diarrhoea or constipation. But what if you've started finding more hair than usual in the shower after hair-wash day?

Does Foundayo Truly Cause Hair Loss?

In short, yes. Hair loss is listed as a common side effect in the UK Foundayo Patient Information Leaflet, meaning it may affect up to 1 in 10 people.

Try not to worry. Just because the leaflet says, "up to 1 in 10", this does not make hair loss a definite outcome. Let's break down why it may happen and what you can do to support your hair while losing weight.

Why Might Weight Loss Affect Your Hair?

Think of your body like a bank account and food as the money coming in. When your food intake starts to decrease, your body has less to put towards all the different things it normally does.

The body does not consider hair growth as crucial to immediate survival as maintaining your energy levels and keeping your important organs working. This means that major changes in your weight or nutrition can sometimes affect the normal hair-growth cycle.

Foundayo may reduce your appetite and help you eat less. However, if "eating less" gradually becomes "hardly eating", you may struggle to get enough protein, iron and other important nutrients.

Hair can be rather dramatic about changes inside the body. Unfortunately, it sometimes waits a few months before making its complaint known.

What Does Weight-Loss-Related Hair Shedding Look Like?

Marked weight loss or extreme dieting can trigger a type of temporary hair shedding known as telogen effluvium.

In less complicated terms, this means that more hairs than usual move into the resting and shedding stage of the hair-growth cycle. Instead of causing one clearly defined bald patch, telogen effluvium usually causes shedding from across the scalp.

Some key signs to look out for include:

• More hair in the shower, on your pillow or in your hairbrush.
• Increased shedding when washing or styling your hair.
• Your hair beginning to feel thinner or having less volume than usual.

According to the British Association of Dermatologists, this shedding can begin around three months after a trigger. You might not immediately connect the hair loss you see today with weight loss or dietary changes that began several months ago.

Is Hair Loss on Foundayo Permanent?

Not necessarily. Telogen effluvium usually improves after the underlying trigger has settled.

The shedding stage commonly lasts for around three to six months, after which new hair may begin to grow. However, it can take several more months for your hair to return to its previous volume and thickness. Hair works to its own timetable, and it has never been known for respecting anyone else's preferred deadline.

It is also important not to assume that every case of hair loss is caused by Foundayo or weight loss. Iron deficiency, thyroid conditions, hormonal changes, illness, stress, hereditary hair loss and other medicines can all contribute.

When starting Foundayo, make sure you tell the Pharmacy Planet clinical team about every medicine you use, including over-the-counter treatments, vitamins and supplements. This helps them make an informed decision with your wider health in mind.

Can You Reduce the Risk of Hair Loss While Taking Foundayo?

Although your portions may start to become smaller, the nutritional quality of your meals should remain balanced.

Try to include regular sources of:

• Protein, such as chicken, fish, eggs, lean meat, beans, lentils or tofu.
• Iron, found in foods such as meat, pulses, leafy green vegetables, nuts and fortified cereals.
• Fruit and vegetables.
• Other essential vitamins and minerals.

Supplements should not automatically replace a balanced diet. Taking more of a vitamin or mineral does not necessarily mean more hair, and some supplements can be unsuitable or harmful if taken in excessive amounts.

If you are struggling to meet your nutritional needs through food, speak to your clinician or a dietitian before beginning a supplement. Your body needs the right support, not a bathroom cupboard full of optimistic gummies.

When Should You Speak to a Healthcare Professional?

It is important to keep our clinical team informed throughout your weight-loss journey. Contact us if:

• Your hair shedding is heavy or persistent.
• Bald or clearly defined patches begin to appear.
• Your scalp becomes painful, inflamed or scaly.
• Hair loss moves beyond your scalp, such as affecting your eyebrows.
• Your weight is declining very quickly.
• Eating a sufficient amount has become increasingly difficult.
• You experience unusual tiredness, weakness, dizziness or feel unusually cold.

Our clinical team can review the rate at which you are losing weight, your diet and any other medicines you take. Blood tests may sometimes be recommended to investigate other possible causes, including iron deficiency or thyroid problems.

Do not stop taking Foundayo without speaking to your prescriber first.

So, Should You Be Worried About Hair Loss With Foundayo?

Although hair loss is recognised as a common side effect in the Foundayo leaflet, it is not something everyone will experience.

Hair shedding may be linked to the medicine, significant weight loss, reduced nutrition or an entirely separate cause. If you begin to notice persistent or sudden changes, seek advice instead of simply hoping your hairbrush becomes less busy.

The scales only play one part in your progress. At Pharmacy Planet, we want you to feel and look your best beyond your weight. Your strength, nutrition and yes, even your hair, matter too.

Sources

• Foundayo UK Patient Information Leaflet
• British Association of Dermatologists: Telogen effluvium
• MHRA: UK authorisation of orforglipron