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Resistance exercise training for older adults with obesity using GLP- receptor agonists

Award Number: R01AG094959
ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON AGING
OPDIV: NIH
AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY
AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 09/01/2026
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 05/31/2031

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Resistance exercise training for older adults with obesity using GLP- receptor agonists - Project Abstract The rapid adoption and diffusion of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists is transforming obesity treatment in the United States. Medications in this drug class, initially approved for the treatment of type 2 diabetes, have proven to be highly effective at promoting substantial weight loss (>15% initial body weight) among adults with obesity. Despite these benefits, GLP-1 receptor agonists may pose unique risks for older adults due to the loss of muscle mass that occurs with substantial and rapid weight reduction. To date, there is limited information on the effects of these medications in older adults with obesity and interventions to thwart their impact on muscle. However, preserving muscle mass in older adults is critical because loss of muscle in this population increases the risk of clinical decompensation, strength and power loss, disability, mobility impairment, and injurious falls—all of which lower physical function and quality of life. Muscle-sparing behavioral interventions, such as a progressive intensity resistance exercise, have the potential to mitigate skeletal muscle loss among older adults using GLP-1 receptor agonists. We posit that progressive, moderate to high-intensity resistance training will mitigate muscle loss and strength in older adults with obesity initiating GLP-1 receptor agonist therapy. As a result, we also posit that a moderate to high-intensity resistance training program will improve measures of physical function and quality of life to a greater extent than conventional care alone, which we define as health education workshops. In addition, a moderate to high-intensity resistance training program may reduce rebound weight gain commonly experienced after discontinuation of GLP-1 receptor agonists, a clinical event that affects many patients and contributes to poor cost-effectiveness. To assess these hypotheses, we propose to enroll 198 socioeconomically diverse older adults (≥60 years-old) with obesity who are initiating GLP-1 receptor agonist therapy for weight loss. Within 3 weeks of their therapy, we will randomly assign older adults to either a supervised, center-based moderate-to-high intensity resistance training program (RT, 3 days per week) or to an Enhanced Usual Care group who, in addition to following physician recommendations, will participate in weekly health education as an “active control” group. The primary outcome will be change in muscle mass, measured using deuterated creatine (D3Cr) dilution. Our aims/hypotheses are Aim/Hypothesis 1: Compared to EUC, RT will attenuate the loss in muscle mass among older adults with obesity using GLP-1 receptor agonists; Aim/Hypothesis 2: Compared to EUC, RT will improve objective measures of physical function and strength among older adults with obesity using GLP-1 receptor agonists; Aim/Hypothesis 3: Compared to EUC, RT will improve self-assessed quality of life and physical function among older adults using GLP-1 receptor agonists.


Issue Date FY	Funding FY	Legal Entity Name	Legal Entity Address	Legal Entity City	Legal Entity State	Legal Entity Zip Code	Legal Entity COUNTY	Legal Entity COUNTRY	Assistance Listing	Award Code	Budget Year	Action Date	Action Type	Action Amount

Issue Date FY: 2026 ( Subtotal = $725,528 )
2026	2026	UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA	1523 UNION RD RM 207	GAINESVILLE	FL	32611	ALACHUA	USA	Aging Research	000	1	8/31/2026	NEW	$725,528
														Subtotal = $725,528

Grand Total All Awards = $725,528

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Resistance exercise training for older adults with obesity using GLP- receptor agonists

Award Number: R01AG094959

ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON AGING

OPDIV: NIH

AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY

AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 09/01/2026

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 05/31/2031

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