RecruitingNAINTERVENTIONAL

Function and Lean Mass Preservation With Resistance Exercise During a GLP-1RA Treatment

This study is for women aged 25-50 who are overweight or obese and are taking a new weight loss medicine called tirzepatide. While tirzepatide is very effective for losing weight, concerns have been raised that it can also lead to a loss of valuable muscle. Losing muscle can have long-term health impacts, including making it harder to stay mobile and potentially increasing the risk of other health problems. This research will explore whether adding a structured exercise programme to the tirzepatide treatment can help women preserve their muscle mass and physical strength during weight loss. By understanding this, the study aims to improve how weight loss medicines are used, ensuring people lose fat while keeping their important muscle.

At a glance

Status

Recruiting

Phase

Sponsor

University of Exeter

Enrolment target

Start

01 Apr 2026

Estimated completion

01 Dec 2027

Muscle Mass and Strength Obesity & Overweight Physical Function

What is this study about?

Many women are looking for effective ways to manage their weight. There's a new medicine called tirzepatide that has shown promising results in helping people lose a significant amount of weight. However, one concern that doctors and researchers have is that this medicine can sometimes cause people to lose not just fat, but also valuable muscle. Losing too much muscle can impact your strength, mobility, and overall health, especially in the long run. It could even make it harder to keep the weight off once you stop the medicine.

This study wants to find out if there's a good way to prevent this muscle loss while still getting the benefits of the weight loss medicine. The researchers believe that a special type of exercise, called resistance exercise (like lifting weights or using resistance bands), might be the answer. This type of exercise has been shown to help people keep and even build muscle, even when they're losing weight through other methods. They've done past research that showed a similar exercise program helped women improve their muscle and strength.

So, this study will look at whether doing a structured resistance exercise program alongside taking tirzepatide can help women protect their muscles and stay strong. The aim is to make weight loss treatments even better, ensuring that when you lose weight, you're losing the right kind of weight (fat) and keeping the important muscle that helps you stay healthy and active.

Key takeaways

New study for women aged 25-50 who are overweight or obese.
Investigates if exercise helps keep muscle while taking weight loss medication (tirzepatide).
Participation involves either medicine alone or medicine plus a structured exercise programme.
Aims to make weight loss healthier by preserving muscle mass.
Your involvement could help improve future weight loss treatments.
All treatment and exercise will be supervised by the research team.

Who may be eligible?

This study is looking for women aged between 25 and 50 years old. To be considered, you should be classified as overweight or obese, which means having a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 27 or higher with at least one weight-related health issue (but not diabetes), or a BMI between 30 and 35. You must not have diabetes (type 1 or 2) and should not have used GLP-1RA medicines before.

There are also some reasons why you wouldn't be able to join. For example, if you are pregnant or planning to get pregnant in the next six months, or if you have ever had an eating disorder. You also need to be able to safely do the exercise programme, so if you have a medical condition that prevents you from exercising, a recent injury, or if your doctor has advised against exercise, this study wouldn't be suitable. The researchers will also check for other health conditions or medications that might make tirzepatide unsafe for you or interfere with the study results.

Could this study suit you?

Answer these quick questions to see if you may be eligible. This is a guide only — the research team makes the final call.

Are you a woman between 25 and 50 years old?
Do you have a BMI between 30 and 35, OR a BMI of 27 or more with another weight-related health issue (not diabetes)?
Have you never used a GLP-1RA weight loss medicine before?
Do you NOT have diabetes (Type 1 or 2)?
Are you able to safely do a resistance exercise program?
Are you NOT pregnant or planning to be pregnant in the next 6 months?

Answer every question to see your result.

What does participation involve?

If you join this study, you will be taking a new weight loss medicine called tirzepatide for 20 weeks. The dose will start low (2.5mg per week) and gradually increase every four weeks, as instructed by the medicine's manufacturer. After an initial health check and being given the tirzepatide, you will be randomly placed into one of two groups. One group will just take the medicine, and the other group will take the medicine AND follow a special exercise programme.

The exercise group will do a structured, whole-body resistance exercise programme four times a week for 20 weeks. Each session will last up to an hour. These exercise sessions will be led by video and supervised by a member of the research team at The University of Exeter. The study will involve regular assessments to check your muscle mass, strength, and overall physical function. The total duration of your active participation in the study will be 20 weeks.

Potential risks and benefits

Taking part in this study may offer potential benefits, such as receiving tirzepatide treatment which helps with weight loss, and if placed in the exercise group, potentially preserving or improving your muscle mass and strength while losing weight. You'll also be contributing to important research that could help improve future weight loss treatments. However, like all medical treatments, tirzepatide has potential side effects, which your prescribing doctor will discuss with you. There's also the commitment involved in attending exercise sessions if you're in that group. You have the right to withdraw from the study at any time, for any reason, without it affecting your medical care.

Locations (1)

Some site locations are approximate. We're improving this — please verify with the trial team before travelling.

Nutritional Physiology Research Unit
Verified postcode
Exeter, United Kingdom· Recruiting

Common questions

What is tirzepatide?

Tirzepatide is a medicine that helps people lose weight. It works by affecting specific hormones in your body that control appetite and how your body uses sugar.

Why is muscle loss a concern during weight loss?

Losing muscle can make you feel weaker, less mobile, and can even slow down your metabolism, potentially making it harder to keep weight off long-term. Muscle is important for overall health.

What kind of exercise will I do?

If you're in the exercise group, you'll follow a resistance exercise programme. This typically involves exercises that challenge your muscles, like using your body weight, resistance bands, or light weights, to help build and maintain strength.

Will I know which group I'm in?

Yes, after initial checks, you will be told whether you are in the group receiving just the medicine or the group receiving the medicine plus the exercise programme.

What if I can't do all the exercises?

The exercise programme is designed to be progressive and low-impact. The sessions are supervised, so the research team will be there to guide you and adjust the exercises if needed, ensuring your safety and comfort.

How to find out more

Thomas P J Kennedy, MSc

tk509@exeter.ac.uk +44 7470074405 Official trial record

Always speak to your GP or specialist before deciding to take part in a study.