How much weight should you lose?

Information for the public

For most people, losing and keeping off even a small amount of weight – about 5% – can have benefits, such as reducing your risk of developing diabetes or lowering your blood pressure. Losing 5% of your weight means losing 5 kg if you weigh 100 kg, or 11 pounds if you weigh 16 stone. Your healthcare professional can help you set realistic targets – for example working out how much weight you should aim to lose each week (at most 0.5 to 1 kg a week, which is about 1 to 2 pounds) or setting lifestyle goals.