Keeping muscle and strength during tirzepatide weight loss with resistance exercise
Official title: Effect of a Progressive Resistance Exercise Program on Muscle Mass and Physical Function During a Tirzepatide Induced Weight Loss in Overweight and Obese Females: a Randomised Parallel Group Study
Run by University of Exeter · NCT07457437 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This program will test whether adding a progressive resistance exercise program to tirzepatide helps overweight or obese women aged 25–50 keep muscle and physical function while losing weight.
Quick facts
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 25 Years to 50 Years |
| Sex | Women only |
| Enrollment | 60 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | University of Exeter Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Exeter, Devon) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | April 1, 2026 |
| Main results expected | December 1, 2027 |
| Study ends | December 1, 2027 |
| Registry record updated | March 27, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT07457437 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Women aged 25–50 with BMI ≥30 (or ≥27 with one obesity-related comorbidity), without diabetes or prior GLP-1RA use, who are able and cleared to perform resistance exercise are ideal candidates.
✕Probably not a fit
People with diabetes, prior GLP-1RA use, current HRT, recent smoking, contraindications to tirzepatide, or who cannot safely exercise are unlikely to benefit or be eligible.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
This randomized interventional study will recruit women aged 25–50 with BMI ≥30 or ≥27 with one obesity-related comorbidity and prescribe tirzepatide for 20 weeks. Participants will be randomized to receive either tirzepatide plus a supervised, progressive resistance exercise program or tirzepatide alone, with groups further stratified into pre- and perimenopausal subgroups for exploratory analyses. Primary outcomes include changes in lean mass and measures of physical function, with body composition measured by standard techniques and functional tests performed at baseline and follow-up. The exercise intervention is a progressive resistance training protocol previously shown to improve muscle mass and function in similar female populations.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, adding resistance training could help women preserve muscle mass and strength during potent tirzepatide-induced weight loss, lowering the risk of future sarcopenic obesity and mobility decline.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research shows resistance training can preserve or increase lean mass during modest weight loss while tirzepatide and other GLP-1/GIP agonists have been linked to substantial lean mass loss, but combining progressive resistance exercise with tirzepatide is not yet well-established.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * 25-50 years old * BMI ≥27 kg/m2 with one obesity related co-morbidity or a BMI between ≥30 and 35 kg/m2 * Female Exclusion Criteria: * Previous GLP-1RA use * Diabetes (Type 1 and 2) * Contraindicative health condition to GLP-1/GIP * Fail clinically administered health screening form for tirzepatide prescription * Pregnant or wanting to become pregnant in the next 6 months * Has or has previously had an eating disorder * Inability to perform exercise program and exercise tests * Advised not to exercise by their general practitioner or medical professional * Current or recent injury within the last 6 months that may affect the ability to carry out resistance exercise * Has consistently resistance trained previously (\>10 sessions per year) * Currently taking medication or supplements that have been shown to impact muscle function and muscle mass in the last 6 months * Current or recent, ≤6 months, smoker * Currently on HRT
Where it's running
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Nutritional Physiology Research Unit
Exeter, Devon, United Kingdom Recruiting
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Francis B Stephens, PhD — University of Exeter
- Study coordinator: Thomas P J Kennedy, MSc
- Email: tk509@exeter.ac.uk
- Phone: +44 7470074405
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How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.