How many kilos can you lose per month? Realistic expectations

Short answer: How many kilograms it is realistic to lose per month depends on your situation. A healthy rate is 2 to 4 kilograms per month. With GLP-1 medicines such as semaglutide or tirzepatide, weight loss in the first few months can be significantly greater.

How many kilograms is it realistic to lose per month? The honest answer is: it depends on your starting weight, the method you use and your personal lifestyle. In this blog post, you can read what the research says about a healthy rate of weight loss, what you can expect from GLP-1 medicines and why hitting a weight plateau is a normal part of the process.

What is a healthy rate of weight loss?

A weight loss of 0.5 to 1 kilogram per week is considered healthy and achievable for most people. This equates to 2 to 4 kilograms per month. This rate has not been chosen at random: it is the guideline followed by the NHG’s guidelines on obesity, as slow and gradual weight loss increases the chances of lasting results and minimises the risk of muscle loss.

Losing weight more quickly is not necessarily better. Anyone who consistently loses more than 1 to 1.5 kg per week runs an increased risk of gallstones, nutritional deficiencies and fatigue. Losing weight quickly increases the risk of muscle loss, which in the long term slows down the metabolism and makes it harder to maintain your weight. A well-structured programme therefore not only tracks how much weight you lose, but also how.

How much weight do you lose per month with GLP-1 medicines?

With GLP-1 medicines such as Wegovy (semaglutide) or Mounjaro (tirzepatide), weight loss during the first few months can be significantly greater than with lifestyle changes alone. Users often lose 4 to 8 kg per month initially, depending on their starting weight and dosage. This rate gradually slows as weight decreases and the body adjusts to the medication.

The clinical trials provide a good indication of what is possible in the longer term. Semaglutide led to significant weight loss in the STEP 1 trial: participants lost, on average, around 15 per cent of their body weight over 68 weeks. For a person weighing 100 kg, that equates to 15 kg.

Even more impressive are the results with tirzepatide: tirzepatide led to an average weight loss of 22 per cent in the SURMOUNT-1 study. Tirzepatide therefore performs better than semaglutide when the two are compared directly, as shown by the head-to-head study in which tirzepatide was compared directly with semaglutide.

An important point: these medicines only reach their full therapeutic dose after four to five months. The dosage is increased gradually, from 0.25 mg of semaglutide in week 1 to the maintenance dose of 2.4 mg after just over four months. For Mounjaro, the dose increases from 2.5 mg to a maximum of 15 mg over a comparable period. Anyone who is disappointed with the pace of weight loss during the first few weeks should bear in mind that the medicine is not yet working to its full effect.

Read more about how much weight you can lose with Ozempic and how much weight you can lose with Mounjaro.

Why does weight loss vary so much from person to person?

Weight loss is never an exact science. Starting weight plays a major role: the higher your starting weight, the more kilos you lose in absolute terms, even if the percentage loss is sometimes comparable. However, genetics, dietary habits, exercise, sleep quality and stress levels also affect the rate of weight loss.

This means that comparing yourself with others is pointless and even harmful. A person weighing 120 kg may lose more kilograms over the same period than a person weighing 85 kg, whilst their percentage weight loss is the same. The same applies to how quickly side effects occur and how well a person tolerates the medicine.

Is rapid weight loss dangerous?

Losing more than 1.5 kg per week on a regular basis is discouraged in medical circles, unless it takes place under close supervision. The risks include not only muscle loss, but also the formation of gallstones, nutritional deficiencies (particularly of vitamins and minerals) and chronic fatigue. Precisely because GLP-1 medicines significantly suppress appetite, it is important that your diet remains sufficiently varied and nutritious.

Goodweigh actively monitors the progress of weight loss and adjusts the programme if the rate becomes too high. This is part of Goodweigh’s weight loss programme: not just writing a prescription, but supporting you throughout the entire process.

When does weight loss plateau?

After the first three to six months, the rate of weight loss slows down for almost everyone. This is not a sign that the treatment is no longer working, but a physiological reaction: the body adapts its energy expenditure to the lower weight, a mechanism also known as metabolic adaptation. A plateau is therefore normal and to be expected; it is no reason to stop.

Furthermore, research shows that weight is regained after stopping semaglutide: people who stopped taking the medicine after a successful period regained, on average, two-thirds of the weight they had lost. This underlines that GLP-1 medication is not a short-term solution, but that support and continuity are crucial for lasting results.

What can you do if you’re losing less weight than expected?

When weight loss plateaus despite taking the medication correctly, it is worth looking at three areas: diet, exercise and sleep. Unconsciously eating more than you realise, not getting enough exercise or poor sleep quality can undermine the medication’s effect, even if you feel less hungry. Keeping a food diary for a week often provides surprising insights.

Sometimes it may also be time to adjust the dose. GLP-1 medicines are more effective at higher doses, and if the maintenance dose has not yet been reached, increasing it may get weight loss moving again. Goodweigh assesses your progress and provides tailored advice based on your individual situation. You can read more about how quickly Mounjaro works for weight loss and how Ozempic helps with weight loss in the related articles in the knowledge base.

How much weight can you lose in total with Goodweigh?

This varies from person to person and depends on your starting weight, motivation and how long you stick to the treatment. The clinical data provide a good reference point: on average, 15 per cent of body weight with semaglutide over 68 weeks, and up to 22 per cent with tirzepatide. For a person weighing 100 kg, this corresponds to 15 kg and just over 22 kg respectively.

Realistic goals, sustainable results

Weight loss is not a race. A sustainable strategy requires patience, consistency and good support. The weight-loss medicines used by Goodweigh are scientifically underpinned and clinically proven to be effective. Medicines are an aid, not a definitive solution. Goodweigh helps you find a pace that suits your body, so that the results last in the long term.