New Study Reveals Resistance Training Mitigates Lean Mass Loss in GLP-1 Users
A recent study, the Tirzepatide and Resistance Exercise (T-REx) trial, published in Nature Medicine on November 9, 2026, indicates that resistance training can significantly reduce lean mass loss in adults using tirzepatide, a GLP-1 medication. The trial involved 120 sedentary adults, aged 50 to 70, with overweight or obesity but without diabetes or cardiovascular disease. Participants were divided into two groups: one received tirzepatide alone, and the other received tirzepatide combined with supervised resistance training three times a week for 40 weeks. While both groups experienced similar weight and fat loss, the group that incorporated resistance training lost less lean soft tissue (3.57 kg vs. 4.67 kg) and showed increased strength across various exercises, whereas the medicine-only group experienced a decrease in strength. The training program progressed through five 8-week phases, from light technique work to vigorous strength and hypertrophy training, with high adherence.
