Weight Loss Expected with 5mg Tirzepatide
A patient on 5mg tirzepatide can expect to lose approximately 15% of their initial body weight at 72 weeks, which translates to roughly 15.7 kg for a 105 kg patient. 1
Dose-Specific Weight Loss Data
The 5mg dose of tirzepatide produces a mean weight reduction of 15.0% (95% CI: -15.9 to -14.2) from baseline at 72 weeks in patients with obesity 2
In absolute terms, the mean weight reduction across all tirzepatide doses compared to usual care is 8.47 kg, with the 5mg dose producing significant weight reduction compared to placebo 1
Approximately 85% of patients on 5mg tirzepatide achieve at least 5% weight loss, compared to only 35% with placebo 2
Calculating Expected Weight Loss in Kilograms
To determine the specific kilogram loss for your patient:
- Multiply the patient's current weight by 0.15 (15% reduction) 2
- Example: A 100 kg patient would lose approximately 15 kg
- Example: A 90 kg patient would lose approximately 13.5 kg
- Example: A 120 kg patient would lose approximately 18 kg
Important Contextual Factors
Diabetes status matters significantly: Tirzepatide produces greater weight loss in non-diabetic individuals (15-20.9%) compared to those with diabetes (4-6.2%) 1
Dose-dependent effects exist: While 5mg produces 15% weight loss, higher doses achieve greater reductions—10mg produces 19.5% and 15mg produces 20.9% weight loss 2
Timeline considerations: The 15% weight loss at 72 weeks represents sustained reduction, with most weight loss occurring during the first 12-16 weeks on therapeutic doses 1
Body Composition Considerations
Muscle mass loss is proportional: Approximately 34% of total weight loss consists of skeletal muscle mass, with muscle mass decreasing proportionally to total body weight (approximately 15% reduction in both) 3
For a patient losing 15 kg on 5mg tirzepatide, expect approximately 5 kg of muscle loss and 10 kg of fat loss 3
Clinical Caveats
Weight loss requires concurrent lifestyle modifications for optimal results—tirzepatide works synergistically with diet and exercise 1
Weight regain occurs rapidly upon discontinuation regardless of tapering strategy, emphasizing the need for long-term continuous treatment 1
The 5mg dose is a therapeutic maintenance dose, not just a starting dose—patients achieving adequate response (≥5% weight loss) at this dose do not necessarily require escalation 1