# Trulicity for Weight Loss: How Much at Each Dose

By Ruth Calder, Enforcement Editor (https://glpwatchdog.org/authors/ruth-calder) | Published: 2026-11-10

Canonical page: https://glpwatchdog.org/research/trulicity-for-weight-loss

> In AWARD-11, Trulicity produced about 3 kg of weight loss at 1.5 mg, 3.8 kg at 3 mg and 4.6 kg at 4.5 mg over 36 weeks in adults with type 2 diabetes. It has no weight-loss approval and no published weight trial in people without diabetes.

## Key points

- AWARD-11 weight change at 36 weeks: −3.0 kg on 1.5 mg, −3.8 kg on 3 mg and −4.6 kg on 4.5 mg.
- Trulicity's label covers type 2 diabetes and heart risk; prescribing it for weight is off-label.
- No published randomized trial has tested dulaglutide for weight in people without diabetes.
- In SUSTAIN 7, Ozempic 1 mg took off 6.5 kg against 3.0 kg for Trulicity 1.5 mg over 40 weeks.
- Lilly's savings card requires a prescription for an approved use, so a weight-only prescription does not qualify.

Trulicity causes modest weight loss: about 3 kg (6.6 lb) at 1.5 mg and 4.6 kg (10 lb) at the top 4.5 mg dose after 36 weeks, in the AWARD-11 trial of adults with type 2 diabetes.[2][3] That is about 5% of body weight at best. Trulicity is not FDA-approved for weight loss, and it has no published weight trial in people without diabetes, so using it for weight is off-label and rests on diabetes data.[3]

> **About this article.** Written from the FDA label on DailyMed and the randomized trials of dulaglutide that report weight. Every trial below enrolled people with type 2 diabetes, whose weight loss on these drugs tends to run smaller. This page does not go back over what Trulicity is.

## How much weight do you lose on Trulicity at each dose?

Higher doses take off more weight, in small steps. AWARD-11 randomized 1,842 adults on metformin, with an average weight of about 96 kg and BMI of 34.2, to three of the doses.[2][1] The lower doses come from the label’s monotherapy trial and from SUSTAIN 7.[3][4]

*Average weight change on Trulicity by dose, type 2 diabetes*

| Weekly dose | Trial and length | Weight change |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 0.75 mg | Label monotherapy trial, 26 weeks | −1.4 kg |
| 0.75 mg | SUSTAIN 7, 40 weeks | −2.3 kg |
| 1.5 mg | Label monotherapy trial, 26 weeks | −2.3 kg |
| 1.5 mg | SUSTAIN 7, 40 weeks | −3.0 kg |
| 1.5 mg | AWARD-11, 36 weeks | −3.0 kg |
| 3 mg | AWARD-11, 36 weeks | −3.8 kg |
| 4.5 mg | AWARD-11, 36 weeks | −4.6 kg |

AWARD-11 figures are the label’s, which count everyone regardless of whether they stayed on the drug; counted on treatment, they rise by 0.1 to 0.2 kg.[3][1] The trial had no placebo arm, so these totals are not measured against an untreated group. A placebo-controlled trial in the label, with metformin and pioglitazone as background, gives a cleaner read at 1.5 mg: −1.3 kg against +1.2 kg, a gap of 2.5 kg.[3] The label’s monotherapy trial also found Trulicity 1.5 mg level with metformin, at −2.3 and −2.2 kg.[3]

Starting weight changes the kilograms and leaves the percentage about the same: people with higher BMI lost more in absolute terms, at a similar share of their weight. People with lower starting HbA1c lost more.[1] Results in routine care are often lower. In a 2026 study of patients who stayed on dulaglutide for at least 3 years, weight was down 2.9 kg after a mean of 4.3 years.[13]

## Is Trulicity approved for weight loss?

No. Its label stops at blood sugar and heart risk, both within type 2 diabetes.[3] A prescriber may use it off-label, but paying for it gets harder. Lilly’s savings card requires a prescription for an approved use, so a weight-only prescription does not qualify for it.[14] Insurers commonly tie coverage to a documented diabetes diagnosis, as [UnitedHealthcare’s diabetes program](https://glpwatchdog.org/research/does-unitedhealthcare-cover-zepbound-and-wegovy) shows. Without coverage, the price as of November 2026 is $389 a month through LillyDirect. Insurance and savings programs change the Trulicity cost and are a separate subject.

We found no published randomized trial of dulaglutide for weight in people without diabetes, at any dose. So nobody can give a reliable figure for what Trulicity does in that group. Other GLP-1 drugs produce more weight loss without diabetes than with it, but carrying that pattern over to Trulicity is a guess.

## Why does Trulicity cause less weight loss than Ozempic or Mounjaro?

Nobody has established the reason. The size of the gap is clearer. The one randomized head-to-head trial is SUSTAIN 7, open-label and funded by Novo Nordisk, in which Ozempic 1 mg took off 6.5 kg against 3.0 kg for Trulicity 1.5 mg, and Ozempic 0.5 mg took off 4.6 kg against 2.3 kg for Trulicity 0.75 mg.[4] It did not test Trulicity 3 or 4.5 mg. A 2025 meta-analysis also favored semaglutide on weight, but its authors warned about low-quality, inconsistent studies.[15] A small 2026 retrospective study from one urban clinic found −6.51% on semaglutide against −1.14% on dulaglutide at one year.[12]

*Weight change in people with type 2 diabetes (separate trials except SUSTAIN 7)*

| Drug and dose | Trial and length | Average change |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Trulicity 4.5 mg | AWARD-11, 36 weeks | −4.6 kg, about 5% |
| Semaglutide 2.4 mg | STEP 2, 68 weeks | −9.6%, placebo −3.4% |
| Tirzepatide 15 mg | SURMOUNT-2, 72 weeks | −14.7%, placebo −3.2% |

These trials differ in length, background treatment and design, so the table shows scale only.[3][5][6] Diabetes itself seems to lower the numbers. The same semaglutide dose produced −14.9% in people without diabetes in STEP 1, and the same tirzepatide dose −20.9% in SURMOUNT-1.[7][8] The brands are set side by side at [Trulicity vs Wegovy](https://glpwatchdog.org/compare/drugs/trulicity-vs-wegovy) and [Zepbound vs Trulicity](https://glpwatchdog.org/compare/drugs/zepbound-vs-trulicity).

## Do higher Trulicity doses cause more side effects?

Somewhat. Going from 1.5 to 4.5 mg in AWARD-11 added about 1.6 kg of loss and took nausea from 13.4% to 16.4%, vomiting from 5.6% to 9.3% and diarrhea from 7.0% to 10.7%.[3] How that compares across the class is in [which GLP-1 has the worst side effects](https://glpwatchdog.org/research/which-glp1-has-the-worst-side-effects).

## When does the weight effect of Trulicity matter?

Mainly for people with type 2 diabetes who take it for blood sugar or heart risk, especially alongside insulin, which tends to add weight. In AWARD-9, weight on Trulicity plus glargine ran 2.41 kg below placebo plus glargine.[9] In a post hoc AWARD-4 analysis, Trulicity 1.5 mg with mealtime insulin ran 3.23 kg below a glargine regimen, and 10.5% against 2.4% lost at least 5%.[10] Its heart benefit does not appear to come from the weight, either: in REWIND, a post hoc analysis tied the benefit partly to HbA1c and kidney markers, not to weight change.[11]

For someone whose goal is weight, four GLP-1 products have an FDA weight indication, as [our list of GLP-1 drugs](https://glpwatchdog.org/research/which-drugs-are-glp1s) sets out, and a weight label also makes coverage and dosing simpler. The same reasoning applies to diabetes pills, as [Rybelsus for weight loss](https://glpwatchdog.org/research/rybelsus-for-weight-loss) explains.

## Frequently asked questions

### How much weight can you lose on Trulicity?

About 3 kg (6.6 lb) on 1.5 mg and 4.6 kg (10 lb) on 4.5 mg after 36 weeks in the AWARD-11 trial of adults with type 2 diabetes. That is about 5% of body weight at the highest dose.

### Is Trulicity prescribed for weight loss?

Not as an approved use. Trulicity is FDA-approved only for type 2 diabetes and related heart risk. A prescriber can use it off-label for weight, but no published randomized trial has tested it for weight in people without diabetes.

### Which Trulicity dose is best for weight loss?

The 4.5 mg dose produced the most in AWARD-11, at 4.6 kg against 3.0 kg on 1.5 mg, with somewhat more nausea and vomiting. The dose is set for blood sugar control, and the label requires at least 4 weeks on each step before going up.

### Is Trulicity or Ozempic better for weight loss?

Ozempic. In the head-to-head SUSTAIN 7 trial, Ozempic 1 mg took off 6.5 kg against 3.0 kg for Trulicity 1.5 mg over 40 weeks. The trial did not include Trulicity's higher doses.

### Why am I not losing weight on Trulicity?

Average weight loss on Trulicity is small, so little or no change is unsurprising. In the label's trial with metformin and pioglitazone, 0.75 mg averaged a 0.2 kg gain. Weight loss was also smaller in people with higher starting blood sugar.

## References

1. Bonora E, Frias JP, Tinahones FJ, et al. Effect of dulaglutide 3.0 and 4.5 mg on weight in patients with type 2 diabetes: Exploratory analyses of AWARD-11. Diabetes Obes Metab. 2021. PMID: 34189841. DOI: 10.1111/dom.14465. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34189841/
2. Frias JP, Bonora E, Nevarez Ruiz L, et al. Efficacy and Safety of Dulaglutide 3.0 mg and 4.5 mg Versus Dulaglutide 1.5 mg in Metformin-Treated Patients With Type 2 Diabetes in a Randomized Controlled Trial (AWARD-11). Diabetes Care. 2021. PMID: 33397768. DOI: 10.2337/dc20-1473. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33397768/
3. Eli Lilly and Company TRULICITY (dulaglutide) injection, for subcutaneous use: prescribing information (sections 1, 6, 14). DailyMed, U.S. National Library of Medicine. 2026. https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=463050bd-2b1c-40f5-b3c3-0a04bb433309
4. Pratley RE, Aroda VR, Lingvay I, et al. Semaglutide versus dulaglutide once weekly in patients with type 2 diabetes (SUSTAIN 7): a randomised, open-label, phase 3b trial. Lancet Diabetes Endocrinol. 2018. PMID: 29397376. DOI: 10.1016/S2213-8587(18)30024-X. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29397376/
5. Davies M, Færch L, Jeppesen OK, et al. Semaglutide 2·4 mg once a week in adults with overweight or obesity, and type 2 diabetes (STEP 2): a randomised, double-blind, double-dummy, placebo-controlled, phase 3 trial. Lancet. 2021. PMID: 33667417. DOI: 10.1016/S0140-6736(21)00213-0. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33667417/
6. Garvey WT, Frias JP, Jastreboff AM, et al. Tirzepatide once weekly for the treatment of obesity in people with type 2 diabetes (SURMOUNT-2): a double-blind, randomised, multicentre, placebo-controlled, phase 3 trial. Lancet. 2023. PMID: 37385275. DOI: 10.1016/S0140-6736(23)01200-X. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37385275/
7. Wilding JPH, Batterham RL, Calanna S, et al. Once-Weekly Semaglutide in Adults with Overweight or Obesity. N Engl J Med. 2021. PMID: 33567185. DOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa2032183. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33567185/
8. Jastreboff AM, Aronne LJ, Ahmad NN, et al. Tirzepatide Once Weekly for the Treatment of Obesity. N Engl J Med. 2022. PMID: 35658024. DOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa2206038. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35658024/
9. Pozzilli P, Norwood P, Jódar E, et al. Placebo-controlled, randomized trial of the addition of once-weekly glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist dulaglutide to titrated daily insulin glargine in patients with type 2 diabetes (AWARD-9). Diabetes Obes Metab. 2017. PMID: 28294499. DOI: 10.1111/dom.12937. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28294499/
10. Fuechtenbusch M, Aberle J, Heitmann E, et al. Weight loss in patients with type 2 diabetes receiving once-weekly dulaglutide plus insulin lispro or insulin glargine plus insulin lispro: A post-hoc analysis of the AWARD-4 study across baseline body mass index subgroups. Diabetes Obes Metab. 2019. PMID: 30737891. DOI: 10.1111/dom.13658. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30737891/
11. Konig M, Riddle MC, Colhoun HM, et al. Exploring potential mediators of the cardiovascular benefit of dulaglutide in type 2 diabetes patients in REWIND. Cardiovasc Diabetol. 2021. PMID: 34563178. DOI: 10.1186/s12933-021-01386-4. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34563178/
12. Spitery A, Lobkovich A, Thomas E Real-world weight loss with injectable semaglutide vs dulaglutide for diabetes. Am J Manag Care. 2026. PMID: 42335260. DOI: 10.37765/ajmc.2026.89952. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42335260/
13. Kim HS, Kim MJ, Kim HS, et al. Real-World Evidence of Long-Term Dulaglutide Use: Sustained Glycemic and Weight Improvements Beyond Three Years. Clin Endocrinol (Oxf). 2026. PMID: 41387176. DOI: 10.1111/cen.70078. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41387176/
14. Eli Lilly and Company Trulicity savings resources and savings card terms (read November 1, 2026). Lilly. 2026. https://trulicity.lilly.com/savings-resources
15. Xia L, Li H, Huang S, Shen L Semaglutide vs. dulaglutide for glycemic and weight control in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Biomed Rep. 2025. PMID: 39781043. DOI: 10.3892/br.2024.1913. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39781043/

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Cite as: GLP Watchdog, Ruth Calder, "Trulicity for Weight Loss: How Much at Each Dose", published 2026-11-10. https://glpwatchdog.org/research/trulicity-for-weight-loss

Canonical HTML page: https://glpwatchdog.org/research/trulicity-for-weight-loss

Medical disclaimer: Nothing here is medical advice. We report on this subject; we do not treat anyone. Whether to begin a medication, supplement, or treatment, whether to adjust it, and whether to stop are questions for a clinician licensed to answer them, who knows your history.