The Effect of Exercise and Tirzepatide on Weight and Health Outcomes (EXER-MED)

What Was Tested

The trial (phase 3) is built around Tirzepatide.

This is clinical trials is to evaluate the effect of exercise with weight loss medication compared to weight loss alone.

The study will enroll 24 adults from 30-65 years old with overweight or obesity.

It had two arms (groups): Exercise (experimental) and Standard Care (active comparator).

Participants will perform aerobic and resistance exercise while taking monthly tirzepatide for 16 weeks.

Participants will take monthly Tirzepatide under the care of their primary care provider for 16 weeks.

The registry classes the interventions as behavioral and drug.

More on the Plan

One thing that is currently unknown is whether exercise augments the impact of weight loss in people taking GLP-1 medication.

The EXER-MED study is a pilot study evaluating the effect of 16 weeks of exercise training with GLP-1 medication compared to taking the medication alone.

The researchers will evaluate the impact of the study groups on weight, body composition (percent fat, percent lean mass), blood pressure, arterial stiffness, blood work (cholesterol, blood pressure, glucose, insulin) and quality of life.

Who Took Part

The registry lists 24 planned participants were the target.

It was open to people of any sex aged from 30 years up to 65 years.

Healthy volunteers were not accepted; participants needed the condition being studied.

Examples of who could join: Men and women 30-65 years of age, postmenopausal women included. 27-29.9 with an additional CVD risk factor or 30-40 kg/m2. For overweight adults only: additional cardiometabolic risk factor (diagnosed dyslipidemia, hypertension). Willingness and adequate health to go on weight loss medication. The capability and willingness to provide written informed consent.

The full record lists 6 inclusion and 18 exclusion criteria; among the exclusions: including but not limited to serious arrhythmias; congestive heart failure; stroke or transient ischemic attacks.

How the Study Was Run

The set-up was randomized, parallel-group and open-label.

Because people in this Tirzepatide study were split into groups at random, differences between the groups are less likely to reflect who happened to join each one.

Groups ran in parallel: each of the participants stayed in one arm throughout.

Nothing was hidden in this open-label Tirzepatide study: the participants and staff both knew the treatment.

It started in 2026-08 with completion listed for 2026-12.

It ran at 1 site in United States.

Its stated primary purpose is treatment.

What Was Measured

The main thing measured (primary outcome): Weight (time frame: Baseline and 16 Weeks).

It also tracked 14 secondary outcomes, for example Physical activity level, Changes in Blood Lipids Concentrations, Resting Metabolic Rate, Change in Fasting Glucose Level, Change in Fasting Insulin Level and Change in Augmentation Index.

What This Means in Plain Language

Put simply, this is a phase 3, randomized trial of Tirzepatide in 24 people.

Its size is small, so on its own it can only give an early look.

Its status is not yet recruiting; no results are posted to the registry yet, so nothing here describes outcomes.

More context: the Tirzepatide compound page, all human trials.