[Carolyn (OP)]

I saw part of a news report this evening that said British scientists have linked hair loss to weightlifting. Unfortuantely I was interrupted by an unexpected visitor and didn't see the full repott.  I did manage to hear that it also affects women as well.

So if weightlifting does cause baldness, how come?

Nic lifts weights, do I have to worry about my almost 15 year old son going bald?

[Simulated]

I'm screwed then my dad's bald (almost) and i've been working out 3 times a week the last how many months ha.

[another_someone]

Hair loss is associated with testosterone levels, and testosterone probably is associated with muscle buildup; but I would not like to hazard a guess as to whether weightlifting actually increases testosterone levels, or merely that people with higher levels of testosterone are more successful weightlifters (certainly, there are drug cheats who use testosterone to help build muscle mass).

Even if weight lifting itself does not increase testosterone levels, I would think that any dietary or life style changes that a serious weight lifter might take to help build up muscle mass would probably increase testosterone levels, and so increase the probability of early onset male pattern baldness.

[chris]

My suspicion is that weight-lifters are injecting themselves with anabolic steroids (in other words testosterone and chemicals with testosterone-like effects), because these help to promote muscle development.

But male pattern baldness is also linked to testosterone, so increasing testosterone levels will acclerate hair loss.

Chris