How much weight will I lose?
Quick read · 5 min
In clinical trials, people lost between 7% and 21% of their body weight on average — depending on the drug. For a 240 lb person, that's roughly 17 to 50 lbs.
- •Average weight loss ranges from 7% (older drugs) to 21% (tirzepatide) in clinical trials.
- •For a 240 lb person, that is roughly 17–50 lbs depending on the medication.
- •About 1 in 3 people on newer drugs lose more than the average. About 1 in 5 lose less than 5%.
- •Results depend on dose reached, how long you stay on treatment, diet, and exercise.
| Medication | Average Loss | At 240 lb | At 200 lb |
|---|---|---|---|
Tirzepatide (Zepbound) Weekly injection | 20.9% | ~50 lbs | ~42 lbs |
Semaglutide pill (Oral Wegovy) Daily pill | 16.6% | ~40 lbs | ~33 lbs |
Semaglutide injection (Wegovy) Weekly injection | 14.9% | ~36 lbs | ~30 lbs |
Orforglipron (Foundayo) Daily pill | 12.4% | ~30 lbs | ~25 lbs |
Phentermine/Topiramate (Qsymia) Daily pill | 9.8% | ~24 lbs | ~20 lbs |
Naltrexone/Bupropion (Contrave) Daily pill | 9.3% | ~22 lbs | ~19 lbs |
Liraglutide (Saxenda) Daily injection | 8% | ~19 lbs | ~16 lbs |
Orlistat (Alli/Xenical) Pill with meals | 6.9% | ~17 lbs | ~14 lbs |
Tip: These are averages from clinical trials. Want to see the numbers for your weight? Try our calculator →
What this means:
These are averages. About 1 in 3 people on tirzepatide lost more than 20% of their body weight. About 1 in 5 people on any drug lose less than 5%. Your actual result depends on dose reached, adherence, diet, exercise, and individual metabolism.
Not everyone loses the same amount
These percentages are averages. In reality, people had very different outcomes. Here's what actually happened in three major clinical trials:
Semaglutide injection
(STEP 1)Tirzepatide 15mg
(SURMOUNT-1)Orforglipron
(ATTAIN-1)Notice: On tirzepatide, 57% of people lost 20% or more. On the older drugs, that number drops to 25–37%. But on any drug, about 1 in 5 people lost less than 5%.
What predicts better results?
Higher starting weight
More absolute pounds lost, though the percentage is similar. A heavier person losing 15% loses more total weight.
Reaching maximum dose
Most weight loss happens at the highest tolerated dose. If you stay at a lower dose, you'll see less dramatic results.
Resistance training + protein
Weight training (3–4 times per week) plus 60–100g protein daily preserves muscle and may boost fat loss.
Staying on treatment
Weight loss continues for 12–18 months before plateauing. Stopping early means slower, smaller results.
Bottom line
- →Averages are just averages. About 1 in 3 people do better, and about 1 in 5 lose less than 5%.
- →Give any medication at least 3–6 months at the therapeutic dose before judging results.
- →Lifestyle factors (protein, resistance training) can meaningfully improve both how much you lose and how much is fat instead of muscle.
Common questions
Based on clinical trials · No rankings · Every claim linked to source
Last reviewed: April 2026