Mounjaro Before and After - Weight Loss Results
Medically reviewed by
Dr Brenda IkejiLast reviewed: 16 Oct 2024
We call weight loss a ‘journey’ because it takes time, and everyone progresses at a different rate. Mounjaro is a very effective weight loss medication that’s been proven to work - on average, our patients lose around 15kgs over their treatment and 4 inches around their waist, but this doesn’t happen overnight. While some people may get results quickly, others will need more time. What’s most important is losing weight at a safe and sustainable rate that you can maintain.
Here, we look at what results you can expect from Mounjaro, how long it can take to achieve them, and all the different things that can affect the pace of your weight loss journey.
What is Mounjaro?
Mounjaro is a prescription weight loss medication with the active ingredient tirzepatide. It's an injectable treatment that works by mimicking naturally occurring hormones in your body to 'trick' your body into thinking you're fuller from less food. It also affects how your body processes food (meaning your stomach takes longer to empty) and how much insulin you produce (so it’s also used in managing type 2 diabetes).
When combined with a healthy diet and exercise plan, these effects lead to more weight loss than just diet and exercise alone.
How Mounjaro works for weight loss
Mounjaro works by reducing your appetite and helping you feel fuller for longer from less food. This makes it easier to follow a healthy meal plan that includes fewer calories, so you can lose weight.
The active ingredient in Mounjaro, tirzepatide, mimics the effects of 2 hormones in your body called glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) by binding to the same receptors once injected. These hormones send signals to different parts of your body, like your brain and pancreas, to let you know you're full or to get more insulin made. Mounjaro tricks your body into sending more of these signals, making you feel fuller and your stomach emptying slower, so you feel fuller for longer.
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Before and after photos using weight loss injections
Heike lost 13kg in 4 months using weight loss injections with ZAVA.
"I can now play with the children better and pick them up and things like that. My mobility has improved enormously. I am much less restricted and, above all, much less exhausted. And the clothes that were at the back of the closet fit again!"
Mounjaro before and after: first month results
Losing weight with Mounjaro isn’t an overnight process, and it can take some time before you see results. So, while some people see significant weight loss in their first month of using Mounjaro, you shouldn’t be discouraged if it’s taking longer to start seeing your desired results. What’s important is that you’re making healthy lifestyle and dietary changes to safely and effectively lose weight throughout the process.
As your body adapts to the medication during your first month of treatment, you should expect to see your appetite change, as well as your relationship with food. This may result in some initial weight loss. Many things can affect how quickly you see results, such as your age, starting weight and activity levels. For most patients, the first month on Mounjaro looks like this:
Week 1: Getting started
Everyone starts on the lowest dose of Mounjaro (2.5mg), which is taken for the first 4 weeks. You start on a low dose and follow the Mounjaro dosage schedule to give your body time to get used to the medication and to reduce your likelihood of getting side effects. During this first week, you might notice some of the initial impact of your medication, such as a few common side effects (nausea, constipation, diarrhoea or vomiting) and a reduced appetite.
Week 2: Changes to your appetite
By week 2, you should start to see real changes in your appetite and how it affects your relationship with food. You may find yourself feeling fuller for longer periods of time and wanting to eat smaller portions. It’s important to stay hydrated and stick to your diet and exercise plan during this period. You may notice some slight weight loss.
Week 3: Doses & side effects
As you go into week 3, you should listen to your body and keep a close eye on any side effects. While you can get side effects at any point on Mounjaro, they’re particularly common when you start treatment and change doses. If you are getting side effects, or they’re unmanageable, you might want to consider delaying going up a dose while your body adjusts. If you’re not or your side effects feel mild and your treatment is going as planned, week 3 is when it’s time to order your next dose (if you haven’t already) because week 4 is the final week on 2.5mg.
Week 4: Your progress check-in
Week 4 is a great opportunity to check in with yourself. It’s likely by this point, you’ll have lost some weight, as long you stick to a healthy diet and exercise plan. By now, you’ll also be getting more used to the medication and managing how it affects you, so you should be more prepared for moving forward and onto your next dose. If possible, you should be in a calorie deficit of around 600 calories from your usual daily allowance and you should be exercising and moving more every day.
Patient testimonials
Fiona, Newcastle
"Finally, I feel much lighter. I lost weight in all different parts of my body. It feels good to look in the mirror, and I feel much happier than before. Everything - so life in general - feels better. I love it when people give me compliments. When big people lose a bit of weight, it’s difficult for other people to see the difference. But since I have lost a considerable amount of weight, people do realise and compliment me. That makes me very happy. I will keep going!"
Neal. H, Scotland
"I use the phrase genuinely life changing. I still have arthritis in my knee and can't walk like I used to, but I can do so much more. I can now go into a high-street shop and buy a pair of jeans off the peg without being told, "We can order that size in", "It's only available on the website", or more likely, only from some awful shop. I feel normal again and not embarrassed about my size."
A.P, London
"My weight loss experience has been tremendous—far better than I could have hoped for! I have lost 23 kg in the six months since I started this treatment. At my heaviest, I simply didn't recognise myself. Today, I feel like my old (youthful) self. My mood, confidence, and general happiness have all greatly improved.”
What can affect Mounjaro results?
Many different factors can affect the results you achieve with Mounjaro. It’s important to understand these when considering your weight loss journey and setting your expectations. You must also let your doctor know if any of these affect you so they can help better develop a weight loss plan that works for you.
Age
As you get older, it can be harder to lose weight. Your metabolism slows down, and your hormones change, which can affect weight loss. Being older also affects how active you are, and being less active can slow weight loss. This doesn’t mean weight loss is impossible and some older people have no problems at all with staying active and reducing their calorie intake with the help of Mounjaro.
Diet
Mounjaro doesn’t work on its own, it reduces your appetite and makes you feel fuller so you can follow a healthy diet plan and get results. People who don’t follow a diet plan or overeat can find that they don’t achieve the results they want or can even gain weight. By establishing a healthy diet, you can maintain your weight and are more likely to keep it off once you finish treatment. Focus on exercising in addition to following a balanced nutritional diet, this way you’re more likely to burn more calories than you consume and in turn, get the results you want.
A 600-calorie deficit is best for losing weight at a safe and sustainable pace, and if you’re struggling to reduce your intake in the first few weeks, try cutting down by 100 or 200 calories a week until you reach this. The longer you take Mounjaro, the bigger its impact on your appetite.
Exercise
The more active you are, the more calories you burn, which helps you lose more weight. If you aren’t as active or don’t exercise at all, it can take longer to achieve the weight loss results you want.
Following your treatment schedule
Forgetting to take your medication or taking it incorrectly can slow down your progress. It can also lead to you needing to restart your treatment again if it happens too often. Stick to injecting Mounjaro at the same time and day each week to keep the medication at a steady level in your body and improve your results.
Underlying health conditions
There are health conditions like PCOS, hypothyroidism and type 2 diabetes that cause weight gain and make it harder to lose weight. If you have a condition like this, you may find your weight loss journey takes longer, or you need to adjust your programme to achieve the desired results. When starting treatment, it’s also important to let your doctor know if you develop new symptoms or have an existing health condition.
Mounjaro first month side effects
Most people tend to get side effects when they first start Mounjaro and when they switch doses. This is because your body is still getting used to the medication and dosage. The most common side effects of Mounjaro, especially when getting started, are:
- nausea
- diarrhoea
- vomiting
- constipation
- upset stomach or stomach pain
While most of these side effects are mild and should go away on their own, it’s important to keep an eye on them and let your doctor know if they persist or become unmanageable.
You can also treat most of these side effects at home with over-the-counter treatments or changes to your diet and lifestyle.
Nausea
Make sure you stay hydrated and try to eat little and often. Eat light foods, which are less likely to upset your stomach, and take regular walks to get fresh air.
Diarrhoea
If you get diarrhoea, drink plenty of water as it can dehydrate you. Eat dry, plain foods until it subsides, and check in with your doctor if it doesn’t go away.
Decreased appetite
Even if you don’t feel hungry, it’s still important to remember to eat when on Mounjaro. Not eating enough can cause nutritional deficiencies and other side effects like nausea, stomach pain or constipation. Try to eat small, regular meals following a 600-calorie deficit diet plan.
Vomiting
Vomiting can cause dehydration, so drink plenty of water if you can. Try to eat small portions of plain food until it subsides.
Constipation
Add more fibre to your diet to see if that relieves your symptoms. If this continues for more than a few days, you should talk to your doctor.
“Side effects are very common when taking medications like Mounjaro, but they’re usually mild and will go away on their own. And remember, most of the time, they’re just your body slowly getting used to the medication, and you won’t need to deal with them for long. If they’re bothering you, or you cannot manage them, you can message us at any time for more advice. We may suggest staying on a lower dose for longer. You can also speak to your pharmacist or GP to get over-the-counter medications like cyclizine (an anti-sickness medication).” Dr Brenda Ikeji
Mounjaro results vs other weight loss medications
Mounjaro is one of the most effective weight loss medications available, but how does it compare to the others? Here, we’ll compare the most popular approved and regulated weight loss medications available in the UK and from ZAVA.
Mounjaro vs Wegovy
Wegovy is another weekly injectable weight loss medication that works in the same way as Mounjaro, as it mimics GLP-1, but is slightly less effective. Even though Wegovy is slightly less effective compared to Mounjaro, it’s still possible to lose a lot of weight with it. Wegovy is still an excellent treatment option if it’s suitable for you and Mounjaro isn’t, or if you’re not tolerating Mounjaro side effects.
Mounjaro vs orlistat
Orlistat tablets work differently from Mounjaro by changing how your body absorbs fat. Instead of being absorbed by the body, around a third of dietary fat is removed as stool waste, helping you safely and effectively lose more weight.
While not as effective as Mounjaro, orlistat is still a great option for weight loss if it’s suitable for you or if you’d prefer a tablet over an injection. It can also teach you how to be more mindful of your dietary intake and how to safely reduce your fat intake, as just 30% of your daily calorie intake should be from healthy fats spread evenly over 3 meals.
You can also get orlistat as an over-the-counter medication known as alli. This contains half the amount of active ingredient (60mg instead of 120mg) and is available without a prescription. As there is less active ingredient, results may be lower than those of orlistat or Xenical tablets.
Wegovy vs Mysimba
Mysimba is a weight loss medication that targets the part of your brain responsible for food cravings to help you lose more weight. It’s taken as a tablet and has been shown to be effective in clinical trials, but doesn’t provide results as high as Mounjaro.
Mounjaro vs Saxenda
Saxenda is also an injectable weight loss treatment like Mounjaro, except it must be injected daily. It’s currently long-term out of stock although a generic version could be available in the UK as soon as this year. It mimics GLP-1 and so works similarly by making you feel fuller for longer, but results are lower than that of Mounjaro.
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Mounjaro results after the first month
While you shouldn’t expect too much weight loss during your first month on Mounjaro, you can expect much more as you continue taking it. What’s important is sticking to your treatment schedule and following your diet and exercise plan. To understand what to expect as you lose weight with Mounjaro, we’ve compiled a month-by-month view of the average weight loss while following the standard Mounjaro dosage plan (increasing your dose every 4 weeks, up to the maximum dose of 15mg) and making healthy lifestyle changes:
Remember that everyone’s weight loss journey is different, and people lose weight at different rates. You may lose more weight than this or find it takes longer to achieve your desired results. You might also find you don’t always see the weight you’re losing straight away, and it might not become more apparent until you’ve lost a bit more.
We recommend taking body measurements and only weighing yourself every 2 to 4 weeks. The numbers might not always change on the scales at every weigh-in, but you may notice a reduction in things like waist circumference, your clothes feel looser, or you feel healthier. The main thing is to stick with it and continue making healthier choices.
Is Mounjaro safe long term?
In studies, Mounjaro has been safely taken for up to 72 weeks for obesity in people with and without pre-existing weight-related medical conditions. The most commonly reported side effects were mild to moderate nausea, vomiting, constipation and diarrhoea and these mostly happened after increasing the dose and decreased over time.
“Mounjaro is a safe, long-term treatment and can be taken to reduce body weight and maintain a healthy weight for as long as you need, provided it’s not causing side effects that aren’t improving and depending on your medical history. If anything changes with your health, you aren’t losing weight or your doctor is worried about your side effects, they may recommend to stop treatment and try an alternative, though this isn’t common.” Dr Brenda Ikeji
Will I gain weight back after stopping Mounjaro?
Whether you gain weight after stopping Mounjaro depends on whether you continue making healthy choices, follow a diet plan and regularly exercise. If you go back to old habits or find it too difficult to maintain your new routine, it’s possible to regain some weight. That’s why it’s so important to lose weight sustainably and build habits you can continue after treatment.
Brenda studied medicine at St Georges University of London and has most recently worked in John Radcliffe Oxford University Hospitals, covering acute and general medicine.
Meet our doctorsLast reviewed: 16 Oct 2024
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