Resistance training to protect muscle in older adults with obesity taking GLP-1 receptor agonists
Official title: Resistance exercise training for older adults with obesity using GLP- receptor agonists
Funded at University of Florida · NIH-11209896 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Older adults with obesity who start GLP-1 receptor agonists may lose muscle; this study tests whether a progressive resistance training program can preserve muscle and keep strength up.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Florida NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Gainesville, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2026 |
| Project end | May 31, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $725,528 |
| NIH project number | 1R01AG094959-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11209896 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Older adults with obesity who are initiating GLP-1 receptor agonist therapy.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals not using GLP-1 receptor agonists or without obesity-related muscle loss concerns may not benefit.
What this research studies
This project focuses on older adults with obesity who are beginning GLP-1 receptor agonist treatment. It tests a structured, progressive resistance exercise program to prevent muscle loss during weight reduction and to maintain physical function. The study will monitor changes in muscle mass, strength, and mobility, along with overall safety and tolerability of the exercise regimen. By combining medication with targeted exercise, the research aims to keep older patients active and independent while they lose weight.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the approach could help older adults maintain muscle and function during obesity treatment with GLP-1 receptor agonists.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work suggests exercise can mitigate muscle loss during weight loss, but this specific combination in older adults on GLP-1 therapies is novel.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Florida
Gainesville, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Manini, Todd — University of Florida
- Study coordinator: Manini, Todd
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Understanding how knee pain and knee obesity and muscle loss affect knee osteoarthritis
This project looks at how knee swelling, excess knee fat, and muscle loss relate to pain and structural changes in knee osteoarthritis in adults.
-
Understanding how maternal and infant sleep and daily rhythms influence early appetite and obesity risk
This project explores how infant sleep, circadian rhythms, and maternal-infant timing relate to early appetite patterns and the risk of obesity in the first year of life.
-
GLP-1 receptor agonists as immune targets to treat asthma in lean and obese adults
Aims to understand how GLP-1R‑agonist diabetes medicines may directly calm immune cells to reduce asthma in adults who are lean or obese.
-
Understanding how where you live and personal factors during pregnancy affect a child’s risk for obesity and metabolic problems
This project looks at how neighborhood conditions and individual factors during pregnancy may influence a child’s risk of obesity and metabolic health as they grow.
-
Multicomponent lifestyle program to curb obesity and cardiometabolic risk in Samoan children
A locally designed lifestyle program aimed at preventing obesity and heart-disease risk in Samoan kids, with a focus on daily routines, healthy eating, sleep, and family support.
-
Game-based mobile app to help pregnant women with overweight/obesity manage weight in Nepal
A new app designed for pregnant women in Nepal with overweight or obesity to help manage weight gain during pregnancy and reduce weight retention after birth.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.