Strength Training Effects on Muscle and Mood in Adults Taking Weight Medication
Tests weightlifting to help keep muscle and mental health in adults taking weight-loss drugs.
Key facts
- Who runs it
- University of Pittsburgh
- Where
- Pittsburgh, United StatesSee the site
- Trial code
- Registry title
- The Effects of Strength Training on Muscle Mass and Mental Health in Adults Taking Obesity Medication
- Status
- Recruiting
- People taking part
- 40 people, planned
- Started
- 25 May 2026
- Expected to end
- 31 May 2027
- Type of study
- Interventional, 2 groupsOne group gets an existing treatment, for comparison.
- Treatments tested
- Resistance Exercise
- GLP-1 RAs
- Record updated
- 24 June 2026
Who can take part
AI summary
From the trial's eligibility criteria. Machine-read from the registry text on this page, so it can be wrong. The registry text below and the trial team decide who can take part.
The trial is looking for inactive, non-smoking adults with obesity who are about to start a GLP-1 RA obesity medication. It tests whether weightlifting keeps muscle and helps mental health over 3 months.
- Age
- 18 years or older
- Sex
- All sexes can join
- Disease stage
- Obesity: BMI 30-45 kg/m², or BMI ≥27 with high blood pressure or sleep apnea (self-reported). Inactive: not meeting current US exercise guidelines in the past 6 months.
- Earlier treatment
- Must be about to start a GLP-1 RA prescribed by a doctor or advanced practice practitioner, and willing to wait until the baseline assessment is done. Cannot have used obesity medication (such as Wegovy, Ozempic, Saxenda, Zepbound, Mounjaro) in the last 3 months.
Main reasons for not taking part
- Diabetes (type 1 or 2)
- Serious heart condition or uncontrolled high blood pressure
- History of major depression, severe psychiatric disorder, eating disorder or weight-loss surgery
- Personal or family history of medullary thyroid cancer or MEN2
- Pregnant or planning to become pregnant during the study
The registry criteria, word for word
Show all 24 criteriaShow less
Who can take part
- Initiating GLP-1 RAs prescribed by physician or advanced practice practitioner and willing to withhold the start of the drug until baseline assessment completed
- Non-Smoker
- ≥18 years old
- Obese: Body Mass Index 30-45 kg/m² or BMI ≥27 + ≥1 weight related comorbidity; either hypertension or sleep apnea confirmed by participant self-report
- Inactive: not meeting the current US exercise guidelines over the past 6 months
- Capable of performing the required exercise training
Who cannot take part
- Struggle with alcohol or other substance abuse (heavy drinking (≥4 drinks/day or ≥8 drinks/week for women; ≥5 drinks/day or ≥15 drinks/week for men), or who score ≥3 on the Drug Abuse Screening Test (DAST-10))
- Participation in any other concurrent interventional clinical trial
- A serious heart condition, such as unstable heart disease or heart failure, irregular heartbeats that are not well controlled, severe narrowing of the heart valves, or any recent inflammation of the heart or its lining
- Cancer requiring treatment in the past 5 years
- Personal or family history of Medullary Thyroid Carcinoma (MTC) or Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia Syndrome type 2 (MEN2)
- Hepatic disease or cirrhosis
- Diabetes (Type 1 or 2)
- Major risk factors for coronary heart disease such as uncontrolled high blood pressure (≥160 mm Hg systolic or ≥100 mm Hg diastolic)
- Any other medical condition that is life-threatening, can interfere with or be aggravated by the exercise training
- History of eating disorders or weight-loss surgery, unstable weight (±5% change in past 6 months), or use of obesity medication (e.g., such as Wegovy, Ozempic, Saxenda, Zepbound, Mounjaro) in the last 3 months
- History of major depression or other severe psychiatric disorders (e.g., who answer "yes" to question 9 on PHQ-9 in the Psych_QoL_Sleep questionnaires.)
- Hypothyroidism/hyperthyroidism
- Gastroparesis
- Chronic/idiopathic acute pancreatitis
- Problems with your muscles or bones that limit your ability to exercise
- Plans to be away ≥2 weeks in the next 3 months
- Inability to give informed consent
- Pregnant or plan to become pregnant during study
Where in United States
- Physical Activity Research Center, University of PittsburghPittsburgh, United StatesContact: Jiyeon Yoon, M.S.Taking people
About the trial
What the trial wants to find out
The purpose of this study is to examine the effects of resistance exercise, such as weightlifting, on retention of muscle mass and mental health in individuals taking GLP-1 RAs (an obesity medication). Resistance exercise is focused on increasing the strength of participants' muscles, such as how much participant can lift.
Read full original descriptionShow less
•The duration of this study is 3 months. This includes:
* Orientation session to explain study protocol, exercise program, and complete questionnaire about participants' medical history and lifestyle. * Two health assessments at baseline and at 3 months. These assessments include body composition, resting blood pressure, cardiovascular function, and muscular strength. Both the resistance exercise group and the control group will complete assessments at baseline and again at 3 months. After the 3-month period, individuals in the control group may choose to participate in the exercise training and complete the optional 6-month assessments. * Personalized resistance exercise sessions for 60 minutes per session, twice per week, for 3 months.
The 2 groups in the trial
- Resistance Exercise (RE)Treatment being tested
Participants will perform 60 min of resistance exercise 2 sessions per week for 12 weeks while continuing GLP-1 RAs therapy as prescribed by regular treating provider
Treatment: Resistance Exercise and GLP-1 RAs
- Standard CareExisting treatment, for comparison
Participants will take GLP-1 RAs for 12 weeks as prescribed by regular treating provider
Treatment: GLP-1 RAs
Questions to ask the study team
- How often do I need to come in, and for how long each time?
- Are travel costs paid?
- Can I keep my own doctor?
- What happens if I want to stop?
Contact the study team: see the registry record → Contacts and Locations
Print a page for my doctorData and sources
- Registry record
- Listed on ClinicalTrials.gov.
- Official title
- The Effects of Strength Training on Muscle Mass and Mental Health in Adults Taking Obesity Medication: A Pilot Study
- Plain-language title
- Strength Training Effects on Muscle and Mood in Adults Taking Weight MedicationGenerated from the registry record. The registry title is the official one.
- AI summary
- From the trial's eligibility criteria. Read by machine on 13 November 2026.
- Record updated
- 24 June 2026