Average weight loss by drug
Averages from studies at highest approved dose. For a 240 lb person.
Averages from studies at highest approved dose. For a 240 lb person. Not everyone achieves these results.
Want your personal numbers? Use the calculator below to see what these percentages mean for your weight.
What could this mean for you?
Enter your weight to see what the trial averages would mean in real terms.
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, how consistently you take it, your diet, exercise, and your body.
Not everyone loses the same amount
These percentages are averages. In reality, people had very different outcomes. Here is how results were spread across thousands of people:
Semaglutide injection (Wegovy)
(1,961 people studied)
Tirzepatide (Zepbound)
(2,539 people studied)
Orforglipron (Foundayo)
(3,127 people studied)
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
Written and maintained by one person · Built with agentic AI tools · Every number checked against the cited trial · Not medical advice
All numbers on this page come from large clinical trials comparing medications to placebo over 52–72 weeks. Participants were not coached on diet or exercise, so these reflect real-world conditions.
Trials referenced:
- SURMOUNT-1 — tirzepatide, 2,539 people, 72 weeks. Average 20.9% weight loss at highest dose vs 3.1% placebo.
- STEP 1 — semaglutide injection, 1,961 people, 68 weeks. Average 14.9% weight loss vs 2.4% placebo.
- OASIS 4 — oral semaglutide, 307 people, 64 weeks. 16.6% weight loss with full adherence (13.6% across all participants).
- ATTAIN-1 — orforglipron, 3,127 people, 72 weeks. Average 12.4% weight loss at highest dose.
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Built with agentic AI tools and not a substitute for medical advice
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