Verbatim response from Perplexity
Most people lose weight gradually on GLP-1s, with the biggest drop usually in the first 6–12 months, and typical trial averages ranging from about 10% to 22% of body weight depending on the drug and dose.[1][4][14][15] It can be sustainable while you stay on treatment, but stopping the medication often leads to substantial regain.[4][7]
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How fast? Real-world data suggest early loss may be modest at first: one cohort found about 1.1% by 8 weeks and 2.2% by 72 weeks with mostly dulaglutide or liraglutide in patients with type 2 diabetes.[3] In clinical trials, averages are much higher, with GLP-1-based medications producing roughly 8% to 21% loss overall, and higher-end results around 15% to 22.5% over about 68–72 weeks for semaglutide/tirzepatide in obesity trials.[1][7][12][15]
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What’s a realistic pace? Many clinicians describe a pattern of early appetite reduction, then faster loss during dose escalation, then slower loss or plateau later rather than steady week-by-week drops.[14] A commonly cited healthy pace is around 1–2 lb per week, but actual results vary widely by starting weight, dose, side effects, food intake, and activity.[9][10]
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Is it sustainable? Yes, if the medication is continued and paired with lifestyle changes. Trials and reviews report meaningful maintenance of weight loss during ongoing therapy, and longer-term data include sustained losses such as about 20% at 3 years with tirzepatide in people with obesity and prediabetes.[4][16]
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What happens if you stop? Weight regain is common after discontinuation; one source notes stopping can lead to regain of about two-thirds of lost weight within a year.[7] That means GLP-1s are usually better thought of as long-term treatment than a short course.[4][7]
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Drug differences matter: In the evidence you provided, tirzepatide generally shows the largest average loss, semaglutide is next, and liraglutide tends to produce less.[6][7][15]
If you want, I can also estimate what this could look like for your starting weight and which GLP-1 tends to be the best fit for speed vs. sustainability.