The golden dose of Mounjaro that helps you shift the MOST weight – and why it's OK to still be hungry on the jab
Weight loss jab users tend to start on lower doses and gradually increase them as their body adjusts, to a maximum of 15mg.
1
As little as 7.5mg of Mounjaro can lead to effective weight loss
Credit: Getty
Many assume that anything under the maximum won't be "enough" to produce results.
But analysis of patients taking the jab found that most - 86 per cent - lost significant amounts of weight at 10mg or lower.
In fact, some of the best outcomes were seen at doses of 7.5mg, rather than the maximum 15mg.
Patients on this dose - just 5mg above the starter amount of 2.5mg - had the highest average weight loss.
Kiran Jones, clinical pharmacist at Oxford Online Pharmacy, said: 'This study reinforces that healthy, sustainable weight loss is possible without excessive pressure or maximal dosing."
The analysis is based on anonymised data from 100 patients who
were prescribed Mounjaro with Oxford Online Pharmacy.
The data was collected in April 2025 and patients who were at various points in their treatment rather than all starting at the same time, as would happen for a study in a clinical setting.
Researchers collected information such as patients' current dose, their starting body mass index (BMI) and the percentage of body weight lost.
All the patients included in the audit got started on the recommended starting dose of 2.5mg.
"Starting low helps the body adjust gradually to the medication and minimises early side effects," the report authors explained.
I went on fat jabs but the hair loss was unbelievable so I quit - I'd rather be chubby with hair than skinny and bald
Just over half - 51- of the patients were taking 5mg of Mounjaro at the time.
Meanwhile, eight people were on 7.5mg, 27 people were on 10mg, one on 12.5mg and 13 on 15mg.
Patients in the analysis lost up to 39kg.
"Our audit showed that healthy, sustainable weight loss occurred at all Mounjaro dose levels," the report authors said.
"There was a general trend of greater weight loss at higher doses, mirroring what has been found in clinical trials.
"However, in our audit, the upward dose-dependent trend was not
perfectly linear."
This means that people on the highest doses didn't necessarily lose the most weight.
The 7.5mg group had the highest average weight loss, followed by
15mg.
What to do if you lose too much weight too quickly whilst on Mounjaro
IF you're losing too much weight too quickly while on Mounjaro, it's important to take action to avoid potential health risks like muscle loss, malnutrition, dehydration, and fatigue. Here's what you can do:
Evaluate Your Caloric Intake
Mounjaro reduces appetite, which can make it easy to eat too little. If you're losing weight too fast (more than two to three lbs per week after the initial adjustment period), try: Tracking your food intake to ensure you're eating enough calories (apps like MyFitnessPal can help).
Increasing protein intake to preserve muscle mass (aim for 0.6–1g per pound of body weight).
Adding healthy fats and complex carbs (e.g., avocados, nuts, whole grains) for balanced energy.
Adjust Your Dosage (With Doctor's Approval)
If your weight loss is too rapid or causing side effects, your doctor may: Pause dose increases or lower your dosage.
Adjust your treatment plan to stabilise your weight loss.
Strength Training & Exercise
To prevent muscle loss: Incorporate resistance training at least two to three times per week.
Stay active with low-impact exercises like walking or yoga.
Hydrate & Manage Electrolytes Drink enough water (Mounjaro can reduce thirst).
Electrolytes matter - Consider adding magnesium, sodium, and potassium if you feel weak or fatigued.
Monitor for Malnutrition & Deficiencies
Rapid weight loss can cause vitamin/mineral deficiencies (especially B12, iron, and electrolytes). If you experience: Fatigue, hair loss, or dizziness, ask your doctor about supplements.
Consider Further Medical Guidance
If your weight loss is excessive or causing health concerns, speak with your healthcare provider.
They might adjust your dosage, diet, or exercise plan to help stabilise your weight loss.
"At first glance, this might suggest that 7.5mg is more effective than the highest dose," researchers explained.
"However, while some patients on 7.5mg achieved greater
weight loss than those on higher doses, others lost far less.
"This variability highlights the highly individual response to Mounjaro.
Outcomes are shaped not just by dose, but by lifestyle, health status, adherence, and other personal factors."
Researchers noted that that smaller group sizes for some dosage amounts - just eight patients on 7.5mg and 13 on 15mg - make the results sensitive to outliers.
This means that if someone lost much more weight than others in the same group, this could be skewing the averages worked out by the report authors.
"A larger dataset would help smooth these fluctuations and better reflect true trends," they said.
"Still, the fact that peak average weight loss occurred at a lower dose is meaningful.
"It reinforces that the maximum dose isn't required to see
meaningful results."
The BMI patients started at did seem to influence weight loss results.
Those with a BMI over 40 when they started taking the jabs were more likely to shed over 20 per cent of their body weight.
"Patients with higher BMIs who achieved greater weight loss were more likely to be on higher doses of 10mg or more, but this was not always the case," the researchers said.
"Some patients achieved significant results at moderate doses
like 5mg or 7.5mg, reinforcing that dose alone doesn't determine
success and that response to Mounjaro is highly individual."
The study authors noted that they couldn't draw conclusions about how quickly patients were able to shed pounds on Mounjaro, as they didn't collect data on overall treatment duration, starting date, or how quickly people upped their dose.
They also advised caution in interpreting the results, especially for the higher dose groups that had fewer people in them.
Is it normal to be hungry on the jabs?
A common misconception among jab users is that they shouldn't feel any hunger at all while taking them.
This can lead to unnecessary concerns about whether their current dose is working, especially when they're taking lower doses.
One of the ways GLP-1 medications like Mounjaro work is by calming
hunger signals in the brain, helping patients feel satisfied with smaller portions.
But they do not and should not eliminate hunger
altogether.
"Hunger is the body's way of signalling it needs fuel, and
even patients on higher doses like 12.5mg or 15mg should feel hunger
at times," the report authors noted.
Kiran added: 'People think these medicines switch off hunger completely, but that's not how they work.
"Being able to eat is normal. Success looks different for everyone, and often, the biggest wins are quiet ones: more energy, less breathlessness, and better sleep.
'Becoming healthier without extreme diets or private clinics is a powerful example of what good, regulated care can achieve. Patients need safety, not pressure.'
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