
Semaglutide Before and After: Weight Loss Results by Month
Clinical trials show 15–17% body weight loss with semaglutide over 68 weeks. Here's what to expect month by month, backed by data from the STEP trials.
Step-by-step guides for starting, dosing, and getting the most out of GLP-1 treatment.
7 articles in this category.

Clinical trials show 15–17% body weight loss with semaglutide over 68 weeks. Here's what to expect month by month, backed by data from the STEP trials.

Verified May 2026: Tirzepatide starts at 2.5 mg once weekly (non-therapeutic starter dose), escalates by 2.5 mg every 4 weeks to a maximum of 15 mg once weekly. Full escalation takes 20 weeks. At 72 weeks, the 15 mg dose produced 20.9% body weight loss in SURMOUNT-1, equivalent to roughly 47 lbs for a 225-lb person. The 5 mg and 10 mg doses are also valid long-term maintenance doses (15% and 19.5% weight loss respectively). Same dosing schedule applies to Zepbound, Mounjaro, and compounded tirzepatide.

Updated April 29, 2026: Foundayo (orforglipron) is the first non-peptide GLP-1 pill for weight loss, FDA-approved April 1, 2026. Produces 12.4% body weight loss over 72 weeks per ATTAIN-1 trial. ACHIEVE-4 (April 2026): 57% lower all-cause death vs insulin glargine (HR 0.43, 2,700 patients). Self-pay starts at $149/month (starting dose) via LillyDirect, $299/month at maintenance doses. No food or water restrictions, take any time.

FDA-approved GLP-1 receptor agonists for weight loss, 2026 guide. Eligibility: BMI 30+ (or 27+ with comorbidity). Semaglutide produces 14.9% weight loss (STEP-1), tirzepatide 20.9% (SURMOUNT-1). Cost: $25-$349/mo via telehealth. Complete 5-step prescription process with verified provider pricing. Options: Foundayo (orforglipron), oral Wegovy, Zepbound, and injectable semaglutide.

Verified April 2026: Brand-name Wegovy is $349/mo via NovoCare, Zepbound starts at $299/mo via LillyDirect. Compounded semaglutide is banned since Feb 2025; compounded tirzepatide remains legal at $149-299/mo under narrow medical-necessity rules. Full legal + safety comparison.

Verified April 2026: GLP-1 patients lose 2-5 pounds in their first month. Appetite suppression starts week 1-2. Nausea peaks at week 4 dose escalation. 98.1% of GI side effects are mild-to-moderate per STEP-1 and SURMOUNT-1 trials. Complete week-by-week timeline with dosing schedule.

GLP-1 patches sold online don't contain semaglutide or tirzepatide, they're herbal supplements. Here's what the science says and what actually works.
Ready to pick a provider? Take the 60-second match quiz or browse our full GLP-1 provider rankings.
Four affiliate partners we feature, we may earn a commission.
Affiliate links, we earn a commission at no extra cost to you. These are featured partners, prioritized by our affiliate economics, not an editorial "best" ranking. The objective ranking (by methodology score) and full methodology are at glp1picks.com/best.