How Much Weight Does the Average Person Lose on Wegovy?

Last reviewed: June 19, 2026

Last updated: June 19, 2026

Written by: Jay Hastings, CEO of PlexusDx

Jay Hastings is the CEO of PlexusDx, a precision health company focused on genetic testing, blood biomarker insights, and personalized wellness recommendations. He has more than 20 years of experience across healthcare innovation, genomics, laboratory operations, healthcare investing, and strategic finance.

Medically reviewed by: Jayden Lee, PharmD, EMBA

Jayden Lee, PharmD, EMBA, is the PlexusDx Medical Science Liaison with a PharmD and MBA specializing in pharmacogenomics and clinical product development, with a proven ability to bridge the gap between genomic research and practical patient outcomes. Dr. Lee has more than 10 years of professional experience in clinical pharmacy, academia, and research.

In the pivotal 68-week trial reported in the Wegovy prescribing information as Study 2, mean change in body weight was −14.9 percent with Wegovy 2.4 mg once weekly versus −2.4 percent with placebo. That is the number most people mean when they say "about 15 percent." But it is one figure from one population, and the label reports several others that differ substantially: −9.6 percent in patients with type 2 diabetes, −16 percent under intensive lifestyle therapy, and −18.8 percent at the 7.2 mg dosage in a 72-week trial. The "average person" depends entirely on which trial population you are describing.

The Headline Figure and Where It Comes From

Study 2 in the Wegovy label was a 68-week trial that enrolled 1,961 patients with obesity, or with overweight at a BMI of 27 to 29.9 plus at least one weight-related comorbid condition; patients with type 2 diabetes were excluded. Randomization was 2:1 to Wegovy injection or placebo. Mean baseline body weight was 105.3 kg and mean BMI was 37.9.

At week 68, the least-squares mean change from baseline was −14.9 percent with Wegovy versus −2.4 percent with placebo, a difference of −12.4 percent. The published account is Once-Weekly Semaglutide in Adults with Overweight or Obesity in the New England Journal of Medicine.

Different Populations, Different Averages

Study 3 enrolled 807 patients with type 2 diabetes and a BMI of 27 or greater, with A1C between 7 and 10 percent. At week 68 the mean change was −9.6 percent with Wegovy versus −3.4 percent with placebo. That gap between the diabetes and non-diabetes populations is consistent across the incretin literature and is one of the most important qualifiers on any headline number.

Study 4 enrolled 611 patients undergoing intensive lifestyle therapy — an initial eight-week low-calorie diet followed by 60 weeks of reduced-calorie eating and activity building from 100 to 200 minutes weekly. There the figures were −16 percent with Wegovy versus −5.7 percent with placebo. Note that the placebo arm more than doubled its result under the more intensive programme.

Study 6, in 401 East-Asian patients, reported −13.2 percent at 2.4 mg and −9.6 percent at 1.7 mg versus −2.1 percent with placebo at week 68. Same molecule, same duration, different population, different average.

The Higher Dosage Changes the Number Again

Study 8 was a 72-week trial in 1,407 patients with obesity, excluding type 2 diabetes, randomized 5:1:1 to Wegovy 7.2 mg, Wegovy 2.4 mg, or placebo. Mean baseline body weight was 113 kg and mean BMI 39.9. At week 72, mean change in body weight was −18.8 percent at 7.2 mg, −15.5 percent at 2.4 mg, and −3.9 percent with placebo.

Study 9, in 512 patients with obesity and type 2 diabetes, reported −13.2 percent at 7.2 mg, −10.4 percent at 2.4 mg, and −3.8 percent with placebo over the same 72 weeks. Again the diabetes population sits several points lower.

Wegovy Tablets Are a Separate Line in the Same Label

The current label covers Wegovy tablets as well as the injection. Study 7 was a 64-week trial in 307 patients randomized 2:1 to Wegovy 25 mg tablets or placebo, reporting −13.6 percent versus −2.4 percent, with 76.3 percent of tablet-treated patients losing at least 5 percent of body weight and 47 percent losing at least 15 percent.

The tablets carry a narrower set of indications than the injection — cardiovascular risk reduction and long-term weight reduction in adults, without the pediatric or MASH indications. They are "Wegovy tablets," a distinct presentation, and their dosing schedule is daily rather than weekly.

Why "Average" Is the Wrong Frame for an Individual

Every figure above is a least-squares mean across hundreds or thousands of people. Within each of those means sit individuals who lost far more and individuals who lost very little. The label reports responder analyses for exactly this reason: in Study 8, 88.7 percent of patients at 7.2 mg achieved at least 5 percent weight loss, and 83.7 percent achieved at least 10 percent — which also means a meaningful minority did not.

Trial populations are also selected. Study 2 excluded type 2 diabetes. Study 5 only randomized patients who had already tolerated escalation to 2.4 mg, and its label text explicitly cautions that its results may not reflect the experience of patients first starting treatment.

Duration Is Part of the Number

None of these results was produced in a month. The shortest of the trials ran 64 weeks; most ran 68 or 72. Discontinuation rates were meaningful — in Studies 2, 3, and 4, 16 percent of Wegovy-treated and 19 percent of placebo-treated patients discontinued therapy, with 6.8 percent of Wegovy-treated patients stopping because of an adverse reaction.

And the effect is contingent on continuation. In Study 5, patients switched to placebo after a 20-week run-in regained 6.9 percent from week 20 to week 68 while those continuing lost a further 7.9 percent. Any average weight-loss figure is really an average conditional on staying on treatment for more than a year.

How Your Genetics Relate to GLP-1 Pathways

Not everyone responds to GLP-1 medications the same way. Genetic variants — including GIPR rs1800437, FTO rs9939609, and MC4R rs17782313 — relate to the biological pathways these medications act on. These are pathway-level associations only and do not predict how much weight you will lose or how you will respond to any specific medication. PlexusDx maps 14 pathways, 49 peptides, and 150+ genetic insights so you and your provider can see how your genes relate to these pathways. It does not recommend, prescribe, or determine which medication, dose, or peptide is right for you. The PlexusDx Precision Peptide Genetic Test ($298) gives you and your provider pathway-level genetic context to support a more personalized conversation. Genetics is a guide, not a guarantee.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How much weight does the average person lose on Wegovy?

In the 68-week Study 2 in the Wegovy label, which enrolled 1,961 patients with obesity or overweight with a comorbidity and excluded type 2 diabetes, mean change in body weight was −14.9 percent with Wegovy 2.4 mg versus −2.4 percent with placebo. Other populations differ substantially: −9.6 percent in patients with type 2 diabetes, and −18.8 percent at the 7.2 mg dosage over 72 weeks.

Why do people with type 2 diabetes lose less?

That pattern appears consistently across the incretin literature and is reflected directly in the label. Study 3, in 807 patients with type 2 diabetes and a BMI of 27 or greater, reported −9.6 percent versus −3.4 percent with placebo at week 68, against −14.9 percent in the non-diabetes Study 2. Study 9 showed the same gap at the 7.2 mg dosage. The reasons are not fully established.

How much weight was lost with the 7.2 mg dosage?

Study 8 was a 72-week trial in 1,407 patients with obesity, excluding type 2 diabetes, randomized 5:1:1 to Wegovy 7.2 mg, Wegovy 2.4 mg, or placebo. Mean change in body weight was −18.8 percent at 7.2 mg, −15.5 percent at 2.4 mg, and −3.9 percent with placebo. In that trial 88.7 percent of patients at 7.2 mg achieved at least 5 percent weight loss.

Do Wegovy tablets produce similar results?

Study 7 in the label was a 64-week trial in 307 patients randomized 2:1 to Wegovy 25 mg tablets or placebo, reporting a mean change of −13.6 percent versus −2.4 percent, with 47 percent of tablet-treated patients losing at least 15 percent of body weight. The tablets carry a narrower set of indications than the injection and are dosed once daily rather than weekly.

Is the average figure a reliable personal prediction?

No. Each figure is a least-squares mean across hundreds or thousands of participants, and within each mean are people who lost far more and people who lost very little. The label reports responder analyses precisely because averages conceal that spread. Trial populations were also selected, and results are conditional on remaining in treatment for more than a year.

Medical and Editorial Standards

Medical review process: This article was reviewed for medical accuracy, scientific clarity, evidence alignment, and appropriate discussion of genetics, medications, supplements, biomarkers, and health-related claims.

Sources and evidence: PlexusDx educational content is developed using peer-reviewed research, clinical literature, reputable medical references, and, where applicable, public health or regulatory guidance.

Commercial transparency: PlexusDx offers genetic testing, blood biomarker testing, personalized supplement recommendations, and related precision wellness services. Product mentions are intended to help readers understand available options and should not be interpreted as medical advice.

Important disclaimer: PlexusDx educational content is for informational purposes only and should not be used as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before making decisions about medications, supplements, genetic testing, lab testing, or health-related care.