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 medication such as semaglutide or tirzepatide, weight loss in the first few months can be considerably higher.

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 medication and why hitting a 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. That amounts to 2 to 4 kilograms per month. This rate hasn’t been chosen at random: it’s the guideline also adopted by the NHG obesity guidelines, because losing weight slowly and gradually increases the chance 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 is at increased risk of gallstones, nutritional deficiencies and fatigue. Rapid weight loss increases the risk of muscle loss, which in the longer term slows down the metabolism and makes it harder to maintain your weight. A well-supervised programme therefore monitors not only 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 higher than with lifestyle changes alone. Users regularly lose 4 to 8 kg per month in the initial period, 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 an average of around 15% 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% in the SURMOUNT-1 study. This means that tirzepatide also outperforms semaglutide when the two are compared directly, as shown by the head-to-head study in which tirzepatide was directly compared 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, this increases from 2.5 mg to a maximum of 15 mg over a similar period. Anyone who is disappointed with the pace in the first few weeks would do well to realise that the medication 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 kilograms are lost in absolute terms, even if the percentage is sometimes comparable. But genetics, diet, exercise, sleep quality and stress levels also influence the rate of weight loss.

This makes comparing yourself with others pointless and even harmful. Someone weighing 120 kg may lose more kilograms over the same period than someone weighing 85 kg, even though their percentage weight loss is the same. The same applies to how quickly side effects occur and how well someone tolerates the medication.

Is rapid weight loss dangerous?

Losing more than 1.5 kg per week on a consistent basis is not recommended in medical circles, unless this takes place under intensive supervision. The risks include not only muscle loss, but also the formation of gallstones, nutritional deficiencies (particularly in vitamins and minerals) and chronic fatigue. Precisely because GLP-1 medication strongly suppresses appetite, it is important that food intake remains sufficiently varied and nutritious.

Goodweigh actively monitors the progress of weight loss and adjusts the programme if the rate of weight loss becomes too rapid. This is part of the Goodweigh weight-loss programme: not just prescribing medication, but providing support 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 almost everyone. This is not a sign that the treatment is no longer working, but a physiological response: the body adjusts 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 medication after a successful period regained, on average, two-thirds of the weight they had lost. This emphasises that GLP-1 medication is not a short-term solution, but that support and continuity are essential for lasting results.

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

If your weight loss has plateaued whilst you are 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 a dose adjustment is also necessary. GLP-1 medication is more effective at higher doses, and if the maintenance dose has not yet been reached, increasing the dose 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 relevant knowledge base articles.

How much weight can you lose in total with Goodweigh?

This varies from person to person and depends on starting weight, motivation and how long you follow the treatment. 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 someone weighing 100 kg, that equates to 15 kg and over 22 kg respectively.

Realistic goals, sustainable results

Weight loss isn’t a race. A sustainable approach requires patience, consistency and good support. The weight-loss medicines used by Goodweigh are scientifically underpinned and clinically proven to be effective. Medication is a tool, not a final solution. Goodweigh helps you find a pace that suits your body, so that the results are maintained in the long term.