Does overeating excess calories and weightlifting cause hair loss?

Question

Hello, I have been working out for a few years now and through working out there is a bulking up process where I need to eat excess calories to gain weight. I was wondering, does lifting weights and eating excess calories accelerate hair loss or no? I read that weight training increases DHT or something like that which accelerates hair loss, but I also read at sites which said that the DHT increase is not high enough to be of any relevance. Can any doctors answer this for me? Thank you!

John Peter Cole, MD · Answer

Excessive eating does not cause hair loss.  Malnourishment can cause hair loss.  Weight training is not linked to hair loss. Androgens to increase muscle mass can accelerate hair loss.  Are you on any supplements?  These generally do not cause hair loss, but study the ones you are on.  Yes, an increase in DHT can accelerate hair loss in men, but this is not going to occur from weight training alone.  If you are concerned, check you blood levels.

Jeff Donovan, MD, PhD · Answer

No, these are not a trigger for hair loss in most individuals. Calories are great for hair and weight lifting does not trigger balding.

William Rassman, MD (retired) · Answer

Increasing calories does not increase the degree of balding or hair loss, but the use of many weight supplements sold on the market have steroids in them and this can cause hair loss. If you are stressing out over it, this can also cause hair loss

Does overeating excess calories and weightlifting cause hair loss?

Answers (3)