Brief summary:
This study examines how adults who take a GLP-1 receptor agonist medication (such as semaglutide \[Ozempic, Wegovy, Rybelsus\], liraglutide \[Saxenda, Victoza\], or tirzepatide \[Mounjaro, Zepbound\]) perform resistance (strength) training before and after starting their medication.
GLP-1 medications are being prescribed more and more often to help people manage type 2 diabetes and lose weight. These medications work well, but a known side effect is that people can lose lean (muscle) tissue along with fat. Losing muscle can make it harder to move, do everyday tasks, and stay strong as we age. Resistance training, things like lifting weights, using resistance bands, or doing push-ups and squats, is the most effective way to keep and build muscle. Yet most adults in the United States do not meet the recommended amount of resistance training, and very little is known about the resistance training habits of people who take GLP-1 medications.
The purpose of this research is to systematically collect information from adults using GLP-1 medications so we can better understand: how often they do resistance training before and after starting the medication; what their sessions look like (frequency, duration, intensity, muscle groups); whether their resistance training is linked to how strong they feel and how well they can carry out daily activities; and what makes resistance training easier or harder while on a GLP-1 medication.
Findings will help doctors, dietitians, exercise professionals, and researchers design better guidance and interventions to protect muscle mass, physical function, and quality of life in people using GLP-1 medications.
Who can join: Adults 18 years or older who are currently taking a GLP-1 receptor agonist medication for type 2 diabetes, overweight or obesity, or weight management, and who have been on the medication for at least three months at a stable dose. Participants must be able to read and respond to the survey in English. People who are pregnant or planning bariatric surgery within the next three months are not eligible.
What participants will do: The study is a single, anonymous, online survey. Interested individuals click the survey link, review a short consent page, and indicate their willingness to participate. Eligible participants then answer questions about their background, current health, GLP-1 medication and dose, resistance training habits before and after starting the medication, self-reported strength and function, and things that make resistance training easier or harder. There are no in-person visits, no exercise tests, and no blood draws.
How long it takes: About 10 minutes total, in one online session. There is no follow-up after the survey and no compensation is offered.
Data privacy: The survey is anonymous. No names, email addresses, or IP addresses are collected or linked to responses. The survey runs on Qualtrics, a secure, institution-approved platform hosted on Ohio State University servers.
The research team hopes to enroll up to 200-300 adults across the United States.