GLP-1 treatment · Weight-loss timeline
Mounjaro Weight Loss by Week: What to Expect in India
What usually happens week by week on Mounjaro or Yurpeak, how to turn trial percentages into kilograms for an Indian body, and what can speed up or slow down your progress.
Most people on Mounjaro (tirzepatide, also sold in India as Yurpeak) notice a smaller appetite within the first few weeks, while steady weight loss builds over several months. In clinical trials, people lost an average of 15% to 21% of their body weight over 72 weeks, depending on the dose [1]. Weight loss is usually fastest in the first six months and levels off for most people between month 6 and month 9 [3]. For Indian adults, who often start lighter and carry more fat around the waist at a lower BMI, progress is best judged in percentages and waist size rather than headline kilos [4].
Key takeaways
Section 01 of 09
What is Mounjaro and how does it help you lose weight?
Mounjaro is a once-weekly injection of tirzepatide. It copies two gut hormones, GLP-1 and GIP, that tell your brain you have eaten enough. This lowers hunger, helps you feel full on smaller meals and makes it easier to eat less without constant willpower.
Mounjaro is the brand name for tirzepatide, made by Eli Lilly. In India, tirzepatide is also sold as Yurpeak. Yurpeak is made by Lilly and distributed by Cipla under an agreement between the two companies, and it was launched in December 2025 [6]. Both brands contain the same medicine. You can read more on our Mounjaro (tirzepatide) page.
To understand how it works, start with what happens after a normal meal. When food reaches your gut, your body releases small messenger hormones. Two of the most important are:
- GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1): tells your brain you are full and slows down how fast food leaves your stomach.
- GIP (glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide): helps your body handle sugar after meals and also appears to play a part in appetite and fat storage.
Natural GLP-1 and GIP only last a few minutes in the blood. Tirzepatide is built to act on both hormone receptors and to last for a whole week, which is why it is injected once weekly [7]. In a study of people with type 2 diabetes, tirzepatide reduced appetite and the amount of food people ate, and led to a greater fall in fat mass than semaglutide or placebo [8].
Put simply, Mounjaro does not burn fat directly. It changes how hungry you feel, so eating less stops feeling like a daily fight. Many people describe this as quieter "food noise", meaning fewer constant thoughts about food. We explain this in more detail in our guide to silencing food noise.
Section 02 of 09
How effective is Mounjaro for weight loss?
In the SURMOUNT-1 trial of 2,539 adults with obesity or overweight, people on tirzepatide lost an average of 15.0% (5 mg), 19.5% (10 mg) and 20.9% (15 mg) of their body weight over 72 weeks, compared with 3.1% on placebo.
These results come from SURMOUNT-1, the main trial of tirzepatide for weight management [1]. Everyone in the trial also received advice on healthy eating and physical activity, so the results reflect medicine plus lifestyle support, not medicine alone.
A few numbers from the trial help put this in perspective:
- About 9 in 10 people on the 10 mg or 15 mg dose lost at least 5% of their body weight.
- About half of the people on the 10 mg or 15 mg dose lost 20% or more.
- On placebo, only about 3 in 100 people reached a 20% loss.
The quality of the weight lost matters too. In a body scan sub-study, about three quarters of the weight people lost on tirzepatide was fat, and about one quarter was lean mass, which includes muscle [9]. This is one reason protein and strength training matter during treatment, which we cover in our Indian diet guide for Mounjaro.
In the trial, tirzepatide also reduced waist size and body fat, and improved blood sugar, blood pressure and blood fats compared with placebo [1].
Section 03 of 09
What is the usual Mounjaro dosing schedule?
Mounjaro usually starts at 2.5 mg once a week for 4 weeks. The dose is then raised in steps of 2.5 mg, no sooner than every 4 weeks, up to a maximum of 15 mg once weekly. Your doctor decides how far and how fast to go.
The slow start is not a sign that treatment is "weak". The 2.5 mg dose is a starter dose that gives your stomach and gut time to adjust. The prescribing information describes 2.5 mg as a dose for starting treatment, not a maintenance dose [10]. Raising the dose too quickly makes nausea and other stomach side effects more likely.
| Weeks | Weekly dose | What it is for |
|---|---|---|
| 1 to 4 | 2.5 mg | Starter dose, helps your body adjust |
| 5 to 8 | 5 mg | First treatment dose |
| 9 onwards | 7.5 mg, 10 mg, 12.5 mg or 15 mg | Raised step by step, at least 4 weeks apart, only if needed and tolerated |
Typical schedule from the prescribing information [10]. Your own schedule is set by your doctor and may stay at a lower dose.
Many people stay on a moderate dose because it keeps working for them. A higher dose is not automatically better if it brings side effects that make eating well harder. For a dose-by-dose explanation, see our guide to Mounjaro doses and what to expect at each stage.
Mounjaro is injected under the skin of the tummy or thigh (or the back of the upper arm, if someone else gives the injection), on the same day each week, with or without food. Changing the injection spot each week helps avoid skin irritation. If you miss a dose, take it within 4 days (96 hours). If more than 4 days have passed, skip it and take the next dose on your usual day. You can change your injection day, as long as the two doses are at least 3 days (72 hours) apart [10].
Section 04 of 09
How much weight do you lose on Mounjaro week by week?
Weeks 1 to 4 bring appetite changes and modest weight loss. Weeks 5 to 12 usually bring steadier loss, and most regular users have lost at least 5% by week 12. Weight loss is usually fastest in the first 6 months. After that, it slows and, for most people, levels off around month 6 to month 9.
Everyone's timeline is different. Starting weight, dose steps, sleep, stress, activity and what you eat all shape your results. The timeline below is based on what clinical trials show for people who take their doses regularly.
The Mounjaro weight-loss curve, week by week
Average % change in body weight from week 0 to week 72, by dose
Sources: 72-week end points (15.0%, 19.5%, 20.9%; placebo 3.1%) from Jastreboff et al., NEJM 2022 (SURMOUNT-1) [1]. Week-12 response from Ard et al., Diabetes Obes Metab 2025 [2]. Plateau timing from Horn et al., Clin Obes 2025 [3]. Note: only the end points are published values; the curves between them are drawn to those end points, the shared 2.5 mg start and the published plateau timing to illustrate direction and relative magnitude. They are not raw participant data and were not read from the published figure. Figure last updated: October 2026.
| Phase | Usual dose | What tends to happen | What the evidence shows |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weeks 1–4 | 2.5 mg starter | Smaller appetite, fewer cravings; modest weight change, partly water | Stomach side effects mostly mild to moderate, mainly during dose increases [1] |
| Weeks 5–8 | 5 mg | Steadier week-to-week loss; better control over cravings | Appetite control usually strengthens after the first step-up |
| Weeks 9–12 | 5 mg, or 7.5 mg if raised | First clear milestone; waist often smaller | About 82% of regular users had lost ≥ 5% by week 12 [2] |
| Months 4–6 | Dose that suits you | Usually the fastest phase of loss | Responders averaged roughly 13–15% by week 24 [3] |
| Month 6 onwards | Maintenance dose | Loss slows, then levels off at a new, lower weight | Typical plateau at about 24–26 weeks (lower starting BMI) to about 36 weeks (higher starting BMI) [3] |
Trial markers describe averages in clinical trials, not a promise for any one person. The week-24 figure comes from people who responded well, so it shows what is possible rather than what everyone will get.
Weeks 1 to 4: appetite changes begin
During the first month, you are on the 2.5 mg starter dose. At this stage, changes in appetite usually show up before big changes on the scale. Many people report:
- Feeling full sooner during meals
- Fewer cravings and less snacking
- Less "food noise", or constant thoughts about food
- Smaller portions feeling satisfying
- Mild nausea or a heavy stomach, especially after large or oily meals
Weight loss in the first month is usually modest. Some of the early drop can be water rather than fat, which is normal. Our guide on water weight vs fat loss explains the difference.
If your stomach is unsettled in these weeks, that is common. Most stomach side effects in trials were mild to moderate and happened mainly while the dose was being increased [1]. See our week-by-week guide to Mounjaro side effects for what is normal and what is not.
Weeks 5 to 8: steadier weight loss
Most people move to 5 mg in week 5. Appetite control often becomes stronger and more stable, and eating less starts to feel easier. Common experiences during this phase include more consistent weight loss from week to week, better control over cravings, fewer late-night snacks and clothes starting to feel slightly looser.
The scale can still move up and down from day to day. Weighing yourself at the same time each week gives a truer picture. Our guide on when to weigh yourself on GLP-1 explains how.
Weeks 9 to 12: the first clear milestone
By the third month, most people can see and feel a difference. Waist size often drops, and energy and movement may feel easier.
This is also the first useful checkpoint. In an analysis of SURMOUNT-1, about 82% of people who took their doses regularly had lost at least 5% of their starting weight by week 12 [2]. For someone who starts at 85 kg, 5% is a little over 4 kg.
If you are in the other group, a slow start is not the end of the story. Of the people who had not reached 5% by week 12, about 9 in 10 still reached it later, on average by around week 25 [2]. A slower start does not mean the medicine has failed.
Months 4 to 6: steady progress
For many people, the first 6 months bring the fastest weight loss. By now, most people are on a dose that suits them, and new eating habits are settling in.
In one analysis of people who responded to tirzepatide in the trials, average weight loss by week 24 (about 6 months) was roughly 13% to 15% of starting weight [3]. This group was selected because they responded well, so it shows what is possible rather than what everyone will get. Over time, people may notice a smaller waist and looser clothes, better blood sugar control, more stable eating habits and more energy for walking and daily activity.
Month 6 onwards: slowing down and levelling off
Weight loss naturally slows as your body gets smaller. A smaller body needs less energy, and the body pushes back by raising appetite a little. This leads to a plateau, a phase where weight stays roughly the same.
In the same trial analysis, the typical time to reach a plateau was about 24 to 26 weeks for people who started with overweight or class 1 obesity, and about 36 weeks for those with higher starting BMIs [3]. Between week 24 and week 72, this group lost a further 4.6% to 9.7% on average, with more loss in people who started at a higher BMI.
A plateau usually means the body is settling at a new, lower weight. Our guide to the Mounjaro weight-loss plateau explains why it happens and what helps.
Section 05 of 09
How many kg can you lose on Mounjaro?
Trials report weight loss as a percentage of starting weight, so the kilos depend on where you start. A 15% loss is about 10.5 kg at 70 kg, 12 kg at 80 kg and 13.5 kg at 90 kg. In SURMOUNT-1, average losses at 72 weeks ranged from 15% to 21% by dose.
Most headlines about Mounjaro quote kilos from trials where people started at an average of about 105 kg [1]. Many Indian adults start lighter than that, so the same percentage gives a smaller number of kilos. This does not mean the medicine works less well. It means the yardstick should be percentage, not kilos. Use this table to translate trial percentages into kilos for your own starting weight:
| Starting weight | 5% loss | 10% loss | 15% loss | 20% loss |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 70 kg | 3.5 kg | 7 kg | 10.5 kg | 14 kg |
| 80 kg | 4 kg | 8 kg | 12 kg | 16 kg |
| 90 kg | 4.5 kg | 9 kg | 13.5 kg | 18 kg |
| 100 kg | 5 kg | 10 kg | 15 kg | 20 kg |
Simple arithmetic, for illustration only. It is not a prediction for any one person.
What the trial averages mean in kilograms
The 5% milestone and the SURMOUNT-1 72-week average range, converted for common Indian starting weights
Sources: arithmetic on the SURMOUNT-1 72-week average range of 15.0% (5 mg) to 20.9% (15 mg) from Jastreboff et al., NEJM 2022 [1]; 5% week-12 milestone from Ard et al. 2025 [2]. Note: an illustration of averages, not a prediction for any one person; SURMOUNT-1 participants started at about 105 kg on average. Figure last updated: October 2026.
Even a 5% to 10% loss can bring real health benefits, such as better blood sugar and blood pressure. You can check where you stand with our BMI calculator and body composition calculator.
Section 06 of 09
Does Mounjaro work the same way for Indians?
Trials in Asian populations show similar percentage weight loss to Western trials. However, Indians tend to carry more body fat, especially around the waist, at a lower BMI. That is why Indian guidelines use lower cut-offs, and why waist size matters as much as weight when tracking progress.
The main SURMOUNT-1 trial ran in nine countries, including India, but Indian participants made up only about 1.3% of the total [11]. So we also look at trials run fully in Asian populations:
| Trial | Population | Length | Avg. starting weight | Mean weight loss |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SURMOUNT-1 [1] | 9 countries incl. India (~1.3% Indian) | 72 weeks | ~105 kg | 15.0% (5 mg) · 19.5% (10 mg) · 20.9% (15 mg); placebo 3.1% |
| SURMOUNT-CN [12] | China | 52 weeks | ~92 kg | 13.6% (10 mg) · 17.5% (15 mg) |
| SURMOUNT-J [13] | Japan | 72 weeks | ~92 kg | 17.8% (10 mg) · 22.7% (15 mg) |
Trials differ in length, design and population, so compare them for direction rather than as a head-to-head ranking. The Asian trials started closer to the weight of many Indian patients than SURMOUNT-1 did.
The bigger difference for Indians is where fat sits. Indian adults often have more body fat and more belly fat at the same BMI as people of European origin, sometimes called the "thin-fat" pattern. At the same BMI, Asian adults, including Indians, carry about 3 to 5 percentage points more body fat [14]. In a study of nearly 1.5 million people in England, South Asian adults with a BMI of about 24 had the same type 2 diabetes risk as White adults with a BMI of 30 [15].
Because of this, Indian guidelines treat a BMI of 23 or more as overweight and 25 or more as obesity, and use a waist of 90 cm or more in men and 80 cm or more in women as a warning sign [4]. This is a national issue: a large ICMR study found that about 29% of Indian adults have generalised obesity and about 40% have abdominal obesity [16].
| Measure | Asian Indian consensus | International criteria |
|---|---|---|
| Overweight | BMI ≥ 23 kg/m² | BMI ≥ 25 kg/m² |
| Obesity | BMI ≥ 25 kg/m² | BMI ≥ 30 kg/m² |
| Abdominal obesity (men) | Waist ≥ 90 cm | Waist ≥ 102 cm |
| Abdominal obesity (women) | Waist ≥ 80 cm | Waist ≥ 88 cm |
Asian Indian cut-offs from the 2009 consensus statement [4]; international BMI cut-offs per WHO, waist cut-offs per modified NCEP ATP III. The 2025 Indian revision adds waist-to-height ratio alongside BMI [17].
What this means for you:
- Measure your waist once a month, not only your weight. A simple check is that your waist should be less than half your height [17].
- Judge progress against Indian cut-offs, not Western ones.
- Protect muscle with protein and strength training, since losing muscle matters more when you start with less of it.
Whether you live in Delhi, Mumbai or Bengaluru, the same rule applies: your progress should be judged on Indian yardsticks.
Section 07 of 09
What happens if you stop taking Mounjaro?
Stopping usually leads to weight regain. In the SURMOUNT-4 trial, people who switched from tirzepatide to placebo after 36 weeks regained about 14% of their body weight over the next year, while those who continued lost a further 5.5%.
Obesity is a long-term condition, much like high blood pressure. When the medicine stops, appetite usually returns to where it was. In SURMOUNT-4, people first lost an average of 20.9% over 36 weeks. Those who then stopped regained much of it, while about 9 in 10 people who stayed on tirzepatide kept at least 80% of their weight loss [5].
This does not mean you must stay on the same dose forever. It means any change, such as lowering the dose, stopping or switching, should be planned with your doctor, with a clear plan for eating, activity and follow-up. If you are thinking about changing medicines, read our guide on switching from Mounjaro to Wegovy.
Section 08 of 09
What can speed up or slow down your Mounjaro results?
The biggest factors are steady dosing, enough protein, regular strength training, good sleep and managing side effects early. Weight loss can slow because of a plateau, low protein intake, poor sleep, high stress or stomach side effects that make healthy eating harder.
Results vary from person to person. Starting weight, insulin resistance, diet quality, sleep, stress, physical activity and dose progression all influence how quickly someone loses weight. The four guides below go deeper into each area.
Managing side effects in the first weeks
Nausea, constipation and diarrhoea are the most common side effects, and they are usually worst in the weeks after a dose increase. Simple steps such as smaller meals, eating slowly and drinking enough water can help a lot. Read: Mounjaro side effects week by week.
Getting through a plateau
Almost everyone reaches a point where the scale slows down. Knowing why it happens, and which changes actually help, prevents people from stopping too early. Read: Mounjaro weight-loss plateau: why it happens and what helps.
Eating well on an Indian diet
Tirzepatide reduces how much you eat, so what you eat matters more. Getting enough protein from dal, paneer, curd, eggs, chicken or fish helps protect muscle. Read: Indian diet on Mounjaro: what to eat, protein and foods to avoid.
Switching to another medicine
Some people switch from tirzepatide to semaglutide because of side effects, cost or availability. This needs a careful plan. Read: Switching from Mounjaro to Wegovy: how to do it safely.
Section 09 of 09
Who should not take Mounjaro?
Mounjaro is not suitable for everyone. It should not be used by people with a personal or family history of medullary thyroid cancer or MEN 2, and it is not recommended during pregnancy. People with a history of pancreatitis, gallbladder disease or severe stomach problems need careful assessment first.
Tirzepatide is a prescription medicine, and it should only be started after a doctor has reviewed your medical history [10]. The label also warns about inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis), gallbladder problems, kidney problems caused by dehydration after severe vomiting or diarrhoea, and low blood sugar in people who also take insulin or sulfonylureas [10].
If you use the oral contraceptive pill, tirzepatide can make it less reliable for a while. The label advises switching to a non-oral method, or adding a barrier method such as condoms, for 4 weeks after starting and for 4 weeks after each dose increase [10]. If you are planning a pregnancy, talk to your doctor about stopping treatment well in advance.
In India, GLP-1 medicines such as tirzepatide cannot be bought over the counter. Government guidance states they should be prescribed only by endocrinologists, internal medicine specialists or cardiologists [18].
This is not medical advice. The information above is general and educational. Speak to a doctor about your own symptoms and history.
Specialist doctor-led care
How Karespot approaches medical weight loss
Karespot is a specialist doctor-led telehealth service for medical weight loss and metabolic health in India. Because progress on treatment is best judged in percentages and against Indian waist and BMI cut-offs rather than headline kilos, our clinicians track waist circumference, body composition and protein intake alongside weight — with a doctor, dietician and psychologist working from the same picture. We work online with patients across India, from Lucknow to Dehradun; read more about our doctor-led GLP-1 programme in India.
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Guides in this series
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
How much weight can you lose on Mounjaro in a month?
Weight loss in the first month is usually modest, because the first 4 weeks use the 2.5 mg starter dose. The clearer milestone comes at 3 months: by week 12, about 8 in 10 regular users in a trial analysis had lost at least 5% of their starting weight [2].
How many kg can I lose on Mounjaro in 3 months?
Most people who take their doses regularly lose at least 5% of their starting weight by 3 months. That is about 3.5 kg at 70 kg, 4 kg at 80 kg and 4.5 kg at 90 kg. Some lose more, and some take longer to reach this point [2].
How much weight can you lose on Mounjaro in 6 months?
In a trial analysis of people who responded well, average loss by about 6 months (week 24) was roughly 13% to 15% of starting weight [3]. For an 80 kg person, that is about 10 to 12 kg. Individual results vary.
How quickly does Mounjaro start working?
Many people notice less hunger and fewer cravings within the first one to two weeks. Weight loss on the scale usually becomes steadier from the second month, after the move from the 2.5 mg starter dose to 5 mg.
Does Mounjaro reduce belly fat?
Mounjaro reduces total body fat, and this includes fat around the waist. In a body scan study, people on tirzepatide lost about 34% of their fat mass over 72 weeks [9]. In a head-to-head trial, waist size fell by an average of 18.4 cm [19].
Does Mounjaro work for Indians with a lower BMI?
Trials in Chinese and Japanese adults, who started at about 92 kg on average, showed similar percentage weight loss to Western trials [12] [13]. These trials did not focus on people with lower BMIs, so whether treatment is suitable depends on your BMI, waist and health conditions, which a doctor should assess.
Is Yurpeak the same as Mounjaro?
Yes, in terms of the medicine. Yurpeak contains tirzepatide, the same active ingredient as Mounjaro, and is made by Lilly. Cipla distributes it in India for the same uses as Mounjaro [6], so the week-by-week timeline in this guide applies to both. Do not swap between brands or pens without your doctor's advice, because the pen and dosing instructions must match your prescription.
What happens when you stop taking Mounjaro?
Appetite usually returns and weight tends to come back. In the SURMOUNT-4 trial, people who stopped after 36 weeks regained about 14% of their body weight over the following year [5]. Any change should be planned with your doctor.
What happens if I miss a dose of Mounjaro?
Take the missed dose as soon as you remember, as long as it is within 4 days (96 hours) of the usual time. If more than 4 days have passed, skip it and take your next dose on your normal day. Never take two doses within 3 days of each other [10].
References
Peer-reviewed and official sources, current as of October 2026
This is not medical advice. This article is for general information only and does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis or treatment, and it must not be used as a substitute for consultation with a qualified doctor. Mounjaro (tirzepatide) is a prescription-only medicine in India, and whether it suits you, which dose to use and when to change or stop it are decisions to make with a registered medical practitioner who knows your history. Never disregard or delay seeking professional medical advice because of something you have read here. If you are experiencing symptoms that concern you, please consult a doctor. Karespot is a specialist doctor-led telehealth service operating in India; our editorial policy is published at karespot.in/pages/editorial-policy.
