The Claim

In untrained adults, baseline appendicular lean tissue mass is weakly correlated with resistance training-induced gains in lean mass (r = 0.15–0.16), but this association becomes non-significant after adjusting for sex, indicating that initial muscle size is not a strong predictor of hypertrophy response.

Source: Resistance training-induced appendicular lean tissue mass changes are largely unrelated to pre-training bone characteristics in a larger cohort of untrained adults

What the research says

Supports is higher

Support is ahead, but a single strong opposing study can change this.

Supports
42score
Challenges
0score

These are independent scores, not a percentage. Higher-grade studies count more, so a single strong opposing study can outweigh several weaker ones.

Correlation
1 study reviewed
In plain English

If you're new to lifting weights, having more muscle at the start doesn't really mean you'll gain more muscle from training — it's not a strong predictor of results, especially once you account for whether someone is male or female.

See the scientific wording

Baseline appendicular lean tissue mass is weakly associated with resistance training-induced gains in lean mass (r = 0.15–0.16) in untrained adults, but this relationship diminishes after adjusting for sex, suggesting that initial muscle size is not a strong predictor of hypertrophy response.

What the research says

1 study
  1. Study: Resistance training-induced appendicular lean tissue mass changes are largely unrelated to pre-training bone characteristics in a larger cohort of untrained adults

    The study found that how much muscle you start with doesn’t strongly predict how much muscle you’ll gain from lifting weights, especially when you account for differences between men and women.

Score breakdown, mechanism chain, raw evidence, ideal studies needed & 1 supporting studies

Fit Body Science verdict — we translate health claims into clear verdicts backed by peer-reviewed research.

Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making health decisions.