How many kilos can you lose per month? Realistic expectations

Short answer: How many kilos 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 considerably greater.

How many kilos 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, you can read what the science says about a healthy rate of weight loss, what you can expect from GLP-1 medicines, and why a weight loss 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 realistic for most people. This equates to 2 to 4 kilograms a month. This rate has not been chosen at random: it is the guideline also followed by the NHG guidelines on obesity, because slow and gradual weight loss increases the chance of lasting results and reduces the risk of muscle loss.

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

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

With GLP-1 medication such as Wegovy (semaglutide) or Mounjaro (tirzepatide), weight loss in the first few months can be significantly greater than with lifestyle changes alone. During the initial period, users often lose 4 to 8 kg a month, 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 resulted in 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, this 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 trial. Tirzepatide therefore also performs better than semaglutide when the two medicines are compared directly, as shown by the head-to-head study in which tirzepatide was compared directly with semaglutide.

An important fact: these medicines only reach their full therapeutic dose after four to five months. The dosage is increased step by step, 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 similar period. If you are disappointed with the pace of weight loss in the first few weeks, it is important to remember that the medicine is not yet working at full strength.

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 the starting weight, the more kilos are lost in absolute terms, even though the percentage is sometimes comparable. But genetics, dietary habits, exercise, sleep quality and stress levels also affect the rate of weight loss.

This makes it pointless – and even harmful – to compare yourself with others. A person weighing 120 kg may lose more kilograms over the same period than a person weighing 85 kg, even if their percentage weight loss is the same. The same applies to how quickly side effects occur and how well a person tolerates the medication.

Is rapid weight loss dangerous?

In medical circles, losing more than 1.5 kg a week on a regular basis is not recommended, unless it takes place under intensive 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 medication strongly suppresses the appetite, it is important that dietary intake remains sufficiently varied and nutritious.

Goodweigh actively monitors the progress of weight loss and adjusts the programme when the rate becomes too rapid. This is part of the Goodweigh weight-loss programme: not merely issuing a prescription, but supporting the patient throughout the entire process.

When does weight loss level off?

After the first three to six months, the rate of weight loss slows down for virtually 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 – there is no reason to stop.

Furthermore, research shows that weight is regained when you stop taking 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 medicines are not a short-term solution, but that guidance and continuity are crucial for lasting results.

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

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

Sometimes it is also necessary 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 can 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 follow the treatment. The clinical data provide a good reference point: on average, 15% of body weight with semaglutide over 68 weeks and up to 22% with tirzepatide. For a person weighing 100 kg, this corresponds to 15 kg and just over 22 kg respectively.

Realistic goals, lasting results

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