Starting Mounjaro with BMI 27/28

[NotALotToLose]

Keen to hear experiences of any Mounjaro users who had a lowish starting BMI. Obviously this only includes people who have other health concerns. I have high cholesterol so pharmacy were happy to prescribe to me with a BMI of 28.
I've lost 4lb in week one which I'm very happy with after many other unsuccessful attempts to get back to my previous size.
Any advice for those of us in the 'not a lot to lose' camp?

It’s really no different to everyone else. I’m not sure what you’re looking for.

I started with a BMI of 30, I don’t think your experience would be much different to mine TBH. Is there anything in particular you want to know?

Prescribe? So you're paying prescription pricing for a wildly expensive weight loss drug?
Only asking as I want in!?

Everyone is prescribed? This doesn’t mean they pay a prescription charge, you can only get it privately.

Everyone who takes it is prescribed it, even if you pay privately.

All of us, bar the minute few who are NHS eligible are getting it on private prescription @MissFlimpkin. It being available through private pharmacies doesn't mean it doesn't still need prescribing.
@NotALotToLose I wouldn't imagine your experiences will be much different to everyone else's, just a shorter journey. It might be worth dipping into some of the monthly starter threads where a lot of others will be reaching where you're starting from though.

Ahhhh didn't realise the terminology. 👌

I've been lurking for a while...I guess what I'm asking is:
Is the rate of loss still similar?
Does maintenance differ once reaching goal weight?
Does a dose of mounjaro have a similar or greater effect on someone with lower bodyweight?

My starting BMI was around 27. I’ve had great weight loss in last 8 weeks. (1st 5) Was able to get a private prescription through Med Express due to having high cholesterol.

Ok so my starting BMI was 30 so slightly higher. I lost 3.5 stone in 5 months. I stopped taking it in September and have maintained my weight so far, in fact I’ve lost another 4lbs. I haven’t found maintaining difficult at all.

Is the rate of loss still similar? there is no standard rate of loss, it is down to thr individual
Does maintenance differ once reaching goal weight? No, of course not, some do maintenance some don’t, personal choice, edit do you mean maintence dose or going it alone?
Does a dose of mounjaro have a similar or greater effect on someone with lower bodyweight? Some folks think so but no evidence to suggest this. People take it from obese through to healthy weight.

Op, you get you’re not an anomaly right, people taking this go from lighter than you to heavier. Not everyone taking it is massively obese or something.

A bit harsh, I think the Op was just asking for experiences of those who have started taking it with a BMI on the lower end.

My BMI was 28.9 and I weighed 74kg which was hideous for my 5’2” frame.

ive remained on 2.5mg since I started on 1st October. I am now 63kg and a bmi of 24.6. I’d like to lose another kg or two as I still have some fat around my stomach.

side effects were minimal. Felt a bit hungover 2-3 days after injecting but that’s worn off now.

It’s been life changing for me and fixed my pre diabetes and joint inflammation.

I will be starting maintenance after this last pen (which I started tonight). My eating habits have changed dramatically and I exercise more than I ever have in the past so ai am hopeful I can come off it and continue how I am.

Its obviously been a quicker journey than those with more to lose but it has definitely been an eye opener.

Maybe it read wrong, I was simply pointing out she isn’t light or unusual, she’s well within the normal range.

Yes, I realise this. I was just interested in people's experiences who are at the lower end of the BMI scale. There are lots of posts about huge amounts of weight loss and I couldn't find much from people who needed to lose 25lbs ish.

Thanks so much for sharing. Your starting measurements are very similar to mine. Also short and very apple shape!
Really interesting that you've stayed on 2.5. Have you had good suppression throughout?

@NotALotToLose that will probably be because there's fewer people being prescribed at a BMI of between 27 and 30 as you will need to have evidence of a weight related health condition to qualify. So a much smaller target audience by definition. Plus, you don't have the challenge of being on a weight loss diet for 6, 9, 12 months or longer. So people who will only be taking it for 3 months or so will drop away quickly from the long running threads.

The doses of Mounjaro are not calculated by weight, so someone with a BMI of 50 will take 2.5mg to start with just as you with a BMI of 27 will. Side effects or efficacy of the medication don't correlate with starting BMI,

Yes I have. It stared immediately and now I find day 1 is quite normal. Days 2-4 I am quite suppressed but able to eat and then it wears off days 5 and 6. Saying that, I don’t eat anywhere near the amount I used to before taking it, even when my appetite is not suppressed.

This is how my losses have happened

Thanks for your reply. Yes, I was referring to maintenance dose.

Your last point is interesting though. I wonder if we could anecdotally form this conjecture through mumsnet. I know I'm only in week one but I can't imagine increasing the dose and having less of an appetite than now!

Side effects or efficacy of the medication don't correlate with starting BMI

Is this known for sure or is there just no research to prove this? I'm not medical at all so I don't really understand the complexity of the science behind it but it makes sense to me that it would have more impact on someone with lower bodyweight, like alcohol, paracetamol, antibiotics, insulin, anaesthetics...

I started with a BMI of 30 at end of September. Started with a 2.5 dosage through Voy and repeated that for the second month. By end of November I was below my target weight so I stopped. Put on 4kg on a cruise just before Xmas (well worth it!) but have now got back to my target weight.

I'm happy with what I achieved, the weight loss is noticeable and I have dropped 2 dress sizes. What I have done is started taking Glucomannan Complex (recommended by Voy) I only take one dose a day instead of the recommended three, but it works for me.

It's changed my attitude to food a lot. I now ask myself whether I'm hungry or it's habit. I tend not to bother with lunch anymore, eat breakfast later and if I feel hungry late afternoon I have a babybel cheese, which I find a cure for any hunger pangs!

My joint pain has significantly improved and I find I have a lot more energy. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this treatment to anyone with an 'overweight' BMI

Good luck OP

The research showed that weight loss was effective at the prescribed doses and showed no correlation to starting BMI. If that was the case it would have been discussed and described in all of the previous research trials and be a focus of the upcoming trials. And the prescribing guidelines would indicate that dosage is increased in line with BMI.

My BMI was 50 when I started. By your theory the starting dose of 2.5mg would have had very little effect on me compared to you. In fact it had an immediate effect, and after 6 months on Mounjaro I'm on 7.5 mg and have been for more than 3 months as it's continued to be effective for me. I haven't had to go up to 10mg or higher at all.

Me! BMI 27 but high cholesterol.
First weigh in yesterday lost 4lbs!

I started Mounjaro with a BMI of 28, last July. I hit my goal weight in October and have stayed on 5mg maintenance dose ever since. My BMI is now around 21 and I’ve been injecting around every 8 days as my pharmacist said I could. Some days I can eat more than others. I’m trying to find the right balance to maintain the weight loss and not lose anymore. For me, the biggest reason to keep on the injection is the research showing the lower risk of heart disease and dementia. My mother had both and I’ll do anything to avoid them if I can.