AIMS: Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) are widely used drugs with applications beyond the management of obesity and diabetes mellitus. This study aimed to investigate the association between GLP-1 RA use and hair loss.
METHODS: Four electronic databases were systematically searched for relevant studies published from inception to August 20, 2025. We included randomized controlled trials (RCTs) or prospective nonrandomized interventional studies that reported hair loss following GLP-1 RA therapy. A random-effects model was used for meta-analysis.
RESULTS: A total of nine interventional studies, including 7 RCTs and 2 non-RCTs, were included in the final meta-analysis. Data from a total of 4114 GLP-1 RA users were analyzed. The pooled analysis revealed a significantly higher risk of hair loss in GLP-1 RA users than in placebo users (risk ratio [RR]: 3.252; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.437 to 7.358). The significant results persisted even when the analysis was restricted to RCTs focusing on patients with overweight or obesity (RR: 3.587; 95% CI: 2.100 to 6.124). Furthermore, a single-arm analysis revealed that the event rate of hair loss following GLP-1 RA therapy was 3.9%.
CONCLUSIONS: The use of GLP-1 RAs is significantly associated with an increased risk of hair loss.
