Telogen Effluvium Secondary to Starvation Diet

In 1976, a case report was published describing a 20-year-old woman who experienced telogen effluvium, a form of hair loss, following significant weight loss due to a starvation diet. The patient lost 15.8 kg (35 lb) on a 200 calorie per day diet, which led to a hair loss with a 30% telogen ratio. After stopping the diet, her hair loss improved over the next two to three months. A recurrence of hair loss happened when she lost an additional 6.3 kg (14 lb) on a less severe diet, with a subsequent telogen hair count of approximately 27%. The patient saw improvement once again after discontinuing the diet. This case added to previous reports suggesting that substantial weight loss from crash dieting could precipitate telogen effluvium.