Beauty, Health & Wellness

Strength training preserved more lean tissue in a tirzepatide trial

A 40-week randomized study of 120 adults found better strength and less lean-tissue loss when supervised resistance exercise accompanied weight-loss medication.

Beaux Media Editorial · Nov 10, 2026 · 2 min read

A study published in Nature Medicine and described by the University of Western Australia on November 10 adds evidence to a practical question in weight-loss care: what happens to strength and lean tissue when exercise accompanies medication?

The 40-week T-REx trial followed 120 men and post-menopausal women aged 50 to 70 who were living with obesity, or were overweight with a related health issue, and did not have type 2 diabetes. All received tirzepatide. Half also took part in three resistance-training sessions each week. Everyone received general advice about hydration, protein and fibre.

Both groups lost substantial weight. The university reports averages of 22.28 kilograms in the exercise group and 22.61 kilograms in the comparison group. The important difference was in composition and function: the exercise group lost 25 percent less lean tissue and improved upper- and lower-body strength by about 10 percent, while strength declined by about 10 percent in the group without resistance training.

Lean tissue is not a synonym for skeletal muscle alone. It includes other non-fat components of the body. The study's outcome therefore should not be simplified into a precise claim that exercise saved a particular amount of muscle. The findings also apply to the studied population and 40-week protocol, not automatically to all ages, every medication or unsupervised workouts.

The trial was investigator-initiated. The university says the drug maker supplied medication free of charge but was not involved in the design, implementation or evaluation of the study. The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners' newsGP independently reported the findings; longer-term outcomes still need study.

For readers, this is not advice to start or change a prescription or training plan without medical guidance. It is evidence that body composition and physical function deserve attention alongside the number on the scale, and that resistance exercise may help people in this treatment context preserve strength.