Rapid Weight Loss in Men - Can it Cause Hair Loss?

We often hear about female celebrities putting themselves through punishing health and diet regimes and the detrimental effects that rapid weight loss can cause, including hair loss. Telogen Effluvium is the name for hair loss that occurs after the body undergoes a severe shock often the result of pregnancy, emotional stress or yo-yo dieting. The shedding often starts after the person has recovered from the event. It is mostly a temporary condition however sometimes hair loss treatments can help rebalance the hair growth cycle.

But what happens when a man loses weight suddenly? Senior hair specialist at the Belgravia Centre, Leonora Doclis, says that men can also suffer from hair loss after dieting or rapid weight loss. “There is a three month delay between the actual event and the onset of hair loss,” Doclis explains, “furthermore there may be another three month delay prior to the return of noticeable hair regrowth.” Doclis says that this means that the total hair loss and regrowth cycle can last six months or longer as the added shock and upset due to the actual hair loss can prolong the recovery period.

Most men will suffer from Male Pattern Baldness at some point in their lives and have to make a decision to either maintain their hair with hair loss treatments or go for the bald look. Doclis points out that if a man suffers from stress, illness or drastic weight loss and develops Telogen Effluvium as a result, this hair loss condition can trigger Male Pattern Baldness.

So will male celebrities like Stephen Fry, who has been recently pictured looking much thinner, be losing their locks in the near future? Television personality Fry has undergone a strict diet and exercise regime, cutting out bread, potatoes, sugar and red meat. The 52 year old, who is 6ft 5”, has lost a hefty 6 stone and now weighs 15 stone. Fry’s Body Mass Index (BMI) is now around 24.94, which is in the ‘healthy’ range. Fry’s pre-diet weight of 21 stone put his BMI at around 34.92, in the ‘obese’ range. So while Fry has done well to lose the excess weight he was carrying, losing weight in too short a time period, can put a person, male or female, at risk of hair loss, not to mention the long-term health implications.

If you are concerned about hair loss, it is important to get a diagnosis to establish the cause. A hair specialist will be able to do this and advise on suitable treatment, if required. To book a free consultation with a hair specialist at Belgravia, call 020 7730 6666 or message the centre. Alternatively, fill out the online diagnostic form and a treatment advisor will contact you to discuss your condition in more detail.

More Information:
Hair Loss Self-Diagnosis
Telogen Effluvium
Hair Loss Success Stories

Interesting Articles:
Hair Growth After Telogen Effluvium
Celebrity Popstars Suffer Hair Loss As a Result of Extreme Dieting
Renee Zellweger at Risk of Hair Loss?