Your weight significantly influences your overall health, including the health of your hair. Maintaining a healthy weight is crucial for preventing various health conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, and joint problems. Excess weight can also contribute to inflammation in the body, which may affect hair follicles and lead to hair thinning or loss. Below is a closer look at how your weight impacts hair health and what you can do to benefit both.
Does obesity directly cause hair thinning?
According to dermatologist Dr David Fenton, being acutely overweight does not directly cause hair loss. However, obesity does increase your risk of developing a number of significant health issues, most of which have been known to cause thinning hair. These health issues can either directly cause hair loss or indirectly cause it as a side effect of medications used to treat these conditions.
If you’re experiencing hair loss, your weight and lifestyle may be to blame. Whether it’s because you’re consuming foods that are too high in fat or not consuming enough nutrients, both have been shown to lead to hair thinning. Here are some tips to avoid weight-related hair loss and thinning.
What you can do to improve your weight and hair health
Consume a nutritious, balanced diet
We tend to overlook the value of eating nutritious foods and its impact on our hair health. Having a diet that is mainly junk and fast food can lead to nutrient deficiencies. These diets don’t provide essential vitamins and minerals, and they are also high in empty calories and trans fats. Researchers found that obesity-induced stress brought on by a high-fat diet targets hair follicle stem cells to accelerate hair thinning. To improve your weight and promote hair growth, eat foods rich in vitamins B12 and D, biotin, riboflavin, and iron. These nutrients can be found in eggs, berries, spinach, fatty fish, and more.
Set realistic goals
Despite what shows like The Biggest Loser promote, you cannot rush weight loss. Treating it like a sprint rather than a marathon will only lead to disappointment. Furthermore, studies show that sudden weight loss also causes metabolic stress, which leads to telogen effluvium or a type of excessive shedding of the hair. The best way to keep your motivation for weight loss is to create and follow a plan that’s doable, sustainable, and healthy. Setting realistic weight loss goals and eliminating excess weight in a sustainable manner will also be beneficial for your hair in the long run.
Build a better natural hair care routine
When we want to improve the appearance and quality of our hair, we often begin by tweaking our haircare routine. Make it a habit to apply moisturizing oils and steer clear of tight, protective hairstyles to minimize damage and avoid traction alopecia. In the case of hair thinning, prevention is better than a cure. The moment you notice more hair shedding than usual, take action. For this, we recommend our Healthy Hair Growth System, which includes a shampoo, conditioner, and serum. Our products are packed with hydrating oils and essential nutrients that promote the regrowth of strong, healthy hair.
Stay hydrated
Up to 60% of the human adult body is composed of water. From a nutritional standpoint, it only makes sense that we consume enough of it. But it’s also beneficial for shedding excess weight. Staying hydrated helps control appetite and support metabolism. Additionally, proper hydration also aids in digestion and facilitates nutrient absorption, which can contribute to better weight management. In terms of hair health, hydration is the key to maintaining the moisture balance of the scalp and hair follicles.
By prioritizing a healthy weight through proper nutrition, you can positively impact both your general health and the vitality of your hair. After all, the state of your hair health is an outward manifestation of your inner well-being. For more information on how to care for natural hair, download our free ebook, The Hair Growth BluePrint.