Even if overweight, postmenopausal women lift weights while eating fewer calories, their body’s use of protein doesn’t change much—but they still keep their muscle mass.

A 12-week randomized controlled trial in overweight, postmenopausal women (n≥50) undergoing moderate energy restriction (500–750 kcal/day deficit), comparing resistance training (3 sessions/week, 70–80% 1RM, 3–4 sets of 8–12 reps) versus no resistance training (control), with primary outcomes measured via stable isotope tracer techniques for leucine turnover, synthesis, breakdown, oxidation, and 24-hour nitrogen balance, and DEXA for fat-free mass preservation.

A single-arm, pre-post intervention study in overweight, postmenopausal women (n=30) undergoing 8–12 weeks of supervised resistance training during moderate energy restriction, measuring leucine turnover (via isotope tracers), nitrogen balance, and FFM before and after intervention, with statistical comparison to baseline.

A prospective cohort study tracking 100 overweight, postmenopausal women during a 12-week weight loss program, categorizing participants by resistance training adherence (high vs. low), and measuring changes in leucine turnover and nitrogen balance via periodic isotope and urine sampling.

A retrospective analysis comparing leucine metabolism and nitrogen balance in overweight, postmenopausal women who did or did not perform resistance training during a prior weight loss period, using archived metabolic data.