Weight loss percentage

What share of your starting weight you have lost, plus where the 5% and 10% marks sit for you. Those are the points where health often starts to improve.

Your details

Weight lost so far

4.7%

10 lb lost in 12 weeks

Start15 st 4 lb
Now14 st 8 lb
5% of your start weight10.7 lb
10% of your start weight1 st 7 lb
Per week0.8 lb (0.39% of your start weight)
Per month3.6 lb (1.7% a month)
5% lostat this pace, in about a week
10% lostat this pace, in about 14 more weeks (3.2 months)
BMIadd your height to see your BMI then and now
Against the NHS steady pacegentler than 0.5 kg a week, which is still progress and often easier to keep
If this was not plannedlosing 5% or more in 3 to 6 months without trying is a reason to see your GP (BAPEN MUST)

Every percent counts. NICE uses 5% as the first meaningful milestone.

The working

Lost divided by start

From 15 st 4 lb (97.1 kg) to 14 st 8 lb (92.5 kg) is 4.5 kg lost. 4.5 ÷ 97.1 × 100 = 4.7%. Your 5% mark is 4.9 kg (10 lb 11 oz) and your 10% mark is 9.7 kg (1 st 7 lb).

Over time

Per week and per month

Add the weeks and the result shows the pace. 4.5 kg over 12 weeks is 0.4 kg a week, or 1.6 kg (1.7% of the start weight) a month. That is a little gentler than the 0.5 to 1 kg a week the NHS suggests, and the 5% mark is about a week away, with 10% roughly 3 months further on. If the loss was not planned, BAPEN uses 5% or more in 3 to 6 months as the point to see a GP.

Why 5%

The first milestone

Studies used by NICE show that losing around 5% of your weight can lower blood pressure, improve blood sugar and ease joint pain. People on the NHS Digital Weight Management Programme are encouraged to aim for 5% first. It is a far kinder target than a dream weight.

Add your height to see your BMI at the start and now, and the NHS healthy weight range for your height. At 5 ft 7 in (170.2 cm), 97.1 kg is a BMI of 33.5 and 92.5 kg is 31.9, both in the obesity class 1 band, and the healthy range is 53.6 to 72.1 kg. A 5% loss counts for your health long before the BMI band changes, so the percentage is the kinder number to watch.

Keeping it

After the loss

Most people find keeping weight off harder than losing it. Slow losses of 0.5 to 1 kg a week, regular movement and decent sleep give you the best chance. If you regain a bit, that is normal and fixable, not a failure.

Questions

Common questions

How do I work out my weight loss percentage?

Weight lost divided by starting weight, times 100. So 5 kg lost from 100 kg is 5%.

What is a good weight loss percentage?

5% is a widely used first goal, and 10% brings bigger benefits for many people. Both are far more realistic than the numbers on the back of diet books.

How fast should I lose weight?

The NHS suggests 0.5 to 1 kg (1 to 2 lb) a week. A little faster in the first week or two is normal, because some of it is water.

Sources

Last checked 21 October 2026. Spotted something wrong? Tell us and we will fix it.

Support if you want it

The NHS Weight Loss Plan app is free. Your GP can refer you to local weight management support. If food or your body feels hard to think about, Beat has a free helpline on 0808 801 0677.