Keeping muscle and strength during tirzepatide weight loss with resistance exercise
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
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
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 60 (estimated) |
| Ages | 25 Years to 50 Years |
| Sex | Female |
| Sponsor | University of Exeter Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Exeter, Devon) |
| Trial ID | NCT07457437 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
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.
Who should consider this trial
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.
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.
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 performed: 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.
Eligibility criteria
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 this trial is running
Exeter, Devon
- 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
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.