GLP-1 drugs linked to a modest rise in male-pattern baldness risk

A large-scale genetic investigation published in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology reports that GLP-1 receptor agonists—including Ozempic, Wegovy and Zepbound—raise the likelihood of male-pattern hair loss by 7% in men who carry a predisposition. The NYU Langone Health team focused on the GLP1R gene, which naturally elevates the number of GLP-1 receptors in the body, and found it to be significantly more prevalent among individuals with androgenetic alopecia.

Using data from more than 200,000 participants, the researchers compared the frequency of this gene in GLP-1 users versus the general population, confirming that the drugs weaken hair-follicle growth. Even after adjusting for known contributors such as hypertension, the additional risk persisted. Lead researcher Lynn Petukhova highlighted the potential for genetic screening before prescribing GLP-1 therapy and suggested combination preventive treatments to address hair thinning. The findings provide the first genetic link between GLP-1 medication use and accelerated male-pattern baldness.