Liraglutide Average Weight Loss: What to Expect

Liraglutide, sold under the brand names Victoza^® and Saxenda^®, is a glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1) drug that can help people with excess weight and obesity lose weight.

If you’re considering this medication, it’s normal to wonder how much weight you’ll lose. Unfortunately, there isn’t a straightforward answer to that.

Liraglutide average weight loss is about half a pound to one pound each week for the first two or three months. But it can vary depending on things like the dose you take, your genetics, and the lifestyle changes you make.

Read on for a month-by-month liraglutide weight loss timeline, and learn more about the factors affecting how much weight you might lose on this medication.

Looking at the big picture, liraglutide can lead to significant weight loss over time — and then weight management in the long run. But how much weight you lose depends on so many factors (we’ll cover those soon).

We’ll go over the average liraglutide weight loss to give you an idea of what to expect.

A 2015 study funded by Novo Nordisk (the manufacturer of Victoza and Saxenda) looked at more than 3,700 people with a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or more or 27 or more with hypertension (high blood pressure) or dyslipidemia (which includes high cholesterol) but not type 2 diabetes.

Participants took a 3-milligram (mg) daily dose of liraglutide — that’s the dose found in Saxenda — or a placebo for 56 weeks. They also had counseling on lifestyle interventions, like eating more nutritious foods and adding more movement to their routines.

By week 56, the liraglutide group had lost an average of about 18.5 pounds.

Nearly two-thirds of those taking liraglutide lost five percent of their initial body weight, and almost one-third lost 10 percent of their body weight by the 56-week mark.

Liraglutide Average Weight Loss Among Clinical Trials and Studies

Weight loss varies in other studies. For example, a 2016 review looked at five randomized, placebo-controlled trials and concluded that liraglutide led to weight loss of roughly nine to 13 pounds.

In another study, this time from 2014, people taking liraglutide lost an average of around 10.5 pounds in three months.

BTW, Saxenda is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for those with obesity or excess weight and a weight-related medical condition.

Victoza is FDA-approved for type 2 diabetes to help manage glucose (blood sugar) levels, but it’s sometimes prescribed off-label for weight loss because it can slow gastric emptying (how quickly food is digested) and reduce appetite.

You can also get compounded or generic liraglutide. All of these meds contain the active ingredient liraglutide.

Now, let’s get granular. What would liraglutide week-by-week weight loss look like? Just like overall weight loss, the amount of weight you lose each week will vary from person to person. In general, you may lose half a pound to a pound per week on liraglutide.

In the 2015 study mentioned above, participants taking liraglutide slowly lost weight starting from their first month of treatment.

Here’s how it went down:

• Week four (month 1). Participants had lost almost four percent of their starting body weight.

• Week eight (month 2). By week eight, they lost about five percent of their body weight.

• Week 12 (month 3). At 12 weeks, around six percent of body weight was lost.

• Week 16 (month 4). At the four-month mark, seven percent of body weight was lost.

• One year. After a year of treatment, participants lost an average of nine percent of their initial body weight.

In comparison, people in the placebo group only lost an average of 2.6 percent of their baseline body weight over the entire 56 weeks.

Weight reduction isn’t always linear, though. In fact, weight loss plateaus — when weight loss slows or stops altogether — are common. Although there are steps you can take to push through them.

The average weight loss seen in liraglutide studies can give you an idea of what to expect — but your weight loss journey is unique to you. So many factors impact how much weight you lose on liraglutide (or any medication, for that matter).

Some of those factors include:

• Genetics, body composition, and health

• Liraglutide dose

• Missed doses

• Lifestyle changes made

• Overall lifestyle

Let’s dive into those in more detail.

Genetics, Body Composition, and Health

Your genetics, body composition (how much muscle and body fat you have), and metabolic rate (how your body burns energy) can play a role in how much weight you lose — and how quickly you lose it.

Your health profile can also impact weight loss. Conditions like type 2 diabetes, sleep apnea, or polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) can make it harder to lose weight. Some medications, like antidepressants, can make weight loss harder, too.

Liraglutide Dose

To reduce the potential adverse effects of liraglutide, your prescribing healthcare provider will most likely get you started on a low dose that gradually increases over time.

You might find lower doses don’t lead to major changes (like a noticeably reduced appetite). Instead, you may start feeling them as your dose increases, kickstarting your weight loss.

Plus, the dose you take overall may impact how much weight you lose. Novo Nordisk-funded research shows that higher doses of liraglutide lead to more weight loss than lower doses.

Missed Doses

As with any medication, missing doses can reduce the efficacy of liraglutide, potentially leading to less weight loss.

Liraglutide is a daily injection, so it’s essential to integrate it into your routine and make it a habit. Try taking it at the same time each day, like after your morning coffee or before bed.

If gastrointestinal side effects, like nausea or constipation, are causing you to miss doses, reach out to your medical provider. They can recommend treatments and may want to adjust your dose to help.

Lifestyle Changes Made

Liraglutide works best alongside lifestyle modifications, like increasing the amount of movement you do and eating more nutritious, whole foods.

The changes you make can impact how much weight you lose on liraglutide.

For example, how much of a calorie deficit you’re in, how much movement you’re getting outside of structured physical activity, and whether you’re drinking enough water all play a role in weight loss.

Overall Lifestyle

Your overall lifestyle — beyond the lifestyle changes you make — can impact your weight loss journey. For instance, if you work night shifts, are under a lot of stress, or generally don’t get enough rest, you might find it much harder to lose weight.

Many factors are at play here, but two major ones are that sleep and stress can both increase appetite and decrease motivation to work out.

Our weight loss timeline goes into detail about other factors impacting weight change.

If you’re looking into weight loss treatments, liraglutide is just one of your options. There are other injectables and oral weight loss meds to consider.

These medications all work slightly differently, but many can suppress appetite, increase satiety (the feeling of being full), and curb cravings.

Here are some liraglutide alternatives:

• Semaglutide. Semaglutide is sold under the brand names Ozempic^®, Wegovy^®, and Rybelsus^®. Ozempic and Wegovy^® are once-weekly injections, and Rybelsus is a daily pill. Semaglutide is another type of GLP-1 receptor agonist, like liraglutide.

• Tirzepatide. Tirzepatide is also a once-weekly injection. It’s sold under the brand names Mounjaro^® and Zepbound^®. Mounjaro is a diabetes drug sometimes prescribed off-label for weight loss, and Zepbound is FDA-approved for weight loss.

• Naltrexone. Naltrexone is a daily pill FDA-approved for alcohol and opioid disorders, and it’s one of the active ingredients in the weight loss pill Contrave^®.

• Metformin. You might recognize metformin as a diabetes drug, but it’s another medication used off-label for weight loss. This one’s also a daily pill.

• Topiramate. Sold under the brand name Topamax^®, topiramate is an epilepsy and migraine drug that can be useful for weight loss in some cases.

• Bupropion. Bupropion, sold under brand names like Wellbutrin^®, is an antidepressant and another active ingredient in Contrave. It’s sometimes prescribed with other ingredients for weight loss.

When it comes to average weight loss, the numbers look different for each medication. Again, it depends on so many factors and varies from person to person.

Take the average weight loss on liraglutide versus semaglutide, for example. A 2024 study found that people taking semaglutide lost an average of roughly five percent of their body weight after a year of treatment. Those taking liraglutide lost about two percent.

Hers Findings for Medical Weight Loss

We have some data of our own to share. Hers custom oral weight loss kits may contain naltrexone, metformin, topiramate, bupropion, and vitamin B12 in a combination that best suits each patient’s body and needs.

Customers report an average weight loss of 6.4 pounds in the first month* on Weight Loss by Hers oral medication kits.

And customers report losing an average of 3.3 percent of their body weight in the first month* of using Weight Loss by Hers oral medication kits.

As well as medication, Hers personalized weight loss treatment plans include ongoing support and tools to help you make the lifestyle changes needed for long-term weight loss. That includes improving your nutrition, starting a movement routine, staying hydrated, eating more protein, and getting enough sleep.

*Based on self-reported data from approximately 25,402 Hers customers on a personalized treatment plan, including oral medication kits, along with a reduced-calorie diet and exercise. Customers reported their weight at their initial medical consultation and their first follow-up approximately four weeks later.

The average weight loss on liraglutide varies from person to person and depends on myriad factors. TBH, the same goes for any type of weight loss, whether supported by medication or not.

Here are the key points to remember:

• Liraglutide average weight loss could be a half-pound to one pound a week for the first two or three months. It may or may not slow down after that, but over time, this can add up to real weight loss and improvements in overall health. Research shows people can lose an average of 18.5 pounds in a year of liraglutide treatment.

• Many factors impact how much weight you lose. Genetics, personal health profile, drug tolerability, dose, lifestyle changes — they all play a role in how much weight you might lose.

• Make the most of your medication. Control what you can, like remembering to take your daily liraglutide injection, sticking to healthy lifestyle changes (like nutritious foods, movement, and sleep), and reaching out for support when you need it.

The world of weight loss meds is a confusing one, but you don’t need to navigate it alone. Answer a few questions with our free online weight loss assessment, and a licensed healthcare provider will go over your answers and recommend the best treatment plan for you.