A Study Of Starting Strength Barbell Training

Effects Of Progressive Barbell Strength Training On Cardiovascular And Metabolic Health Markers

The purpose of this study is to determine the effect of a 12-week coached Starting Strength barbell training program on systolic and diastolic blood pressure.

Study Overview

• Status: Recruiting
• Conditions: Blood Pressure; Lipid Profile; Fasting Glucose
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Progressive Barbell Strength Training

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Estimated): 200
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Joshua Lee, PA-C,MPAS; Phone Number: 480-342-0612; Email: Lee.Joshua2@mayo.edu

Study Locations

• United States
  • Arizona
    • Scottsdale, Arizona, United States, 85259
      • Recruiting
      • Mayo Clinic in Arizona
      • Contact: Joshua Lee, PA-C,MPAS; Phone Number: 480-342-0612; Email: Lee.Joshua2@mayo.edu
      • Principal Investigator: Joshua Lee, PA-C,MPAS

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Child; Adult; Older Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Adults aged 18-100 years
• Sedentary or minimally active (less than 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity per week)
• No participation in structured resistance training programs within the past 6 months.
• Able to safely participate in resistance training as determined by medical screening
• Willing to commit to 3 training sessions per week for 12 weeks
• Able to provide informed consent
• Willing to obtain pre- and post-intervention laboratory tests from the same laboratory company.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Current participation in structured resistance training programs
• Cardiovascular disease requiring activity restriction
• Uncontrolled hypertension (systolic BP >180 mm Hg or diastolic BP >110 mm Hg)
• Musculoskeletal conditions precluding safe barbell training
• Changes in lipid-lowering or antihypertensive medications within 3 months prior to enrollment
• Known cardiovascular, metabolic, or renal disease that would preclude safe participation in resistance training

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Other
• Allocation: N/A
• Interventional Model: Single Group Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

1

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Starting Strength barbell training program; 12-week coached, progressive overload barbell strength training program (Starting Strength)	Other: Progressive Barbell Strength Training; Subjects will participate in a 12-week barbell training program, 3 days per week for approximately 60 minutes each session. Training sessions will be conducted by Starting Strength certified coaches at Starting Strength Scottsdale gym. Core barbell movements including but not limited to: squat, deadlift, bench press, overhead press, and power clean.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Change in systolic blood pressure	Blood pressure will be measured using automated oscillometric device, and reported in millimeters of mercury (mmHg)	Baseline, 16 weeks
Change in diastolic blood pressure	Blood pressure will be measured using automated oscillometric device, and reported in millimeters of mercury (mmHg)	Baseline, 16 weeks

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Change in total cholesterol	Total cholesterol is the sum of a person's HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and 20% of their triglyceride levels. Healthy total cholesterol is less than 200 mg/dL of blood	Baseline, 16 weeks
Change in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C)	Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) is measured via blood sample and reported in milligrams per deciliter (mg/DL). Results 100 mg/DL and below are considered healthier.	Baseline, 16 weeks
Change in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C)	High-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) is measured via blood sample and reported in milligrams per deciliter (mg/DL). Results 60 mg/DL and above are considered healthier.	Baseline, 16 weeks
Change in triglycerides	Triglycerides are measured via blood sample and reported in milligrams per deciliter (mg/DL). Results 150 mg/DL and below are considered normal levels.	Baseline, 16 weeks
Change in fasting glucose	Blood sample taken after an overnight fast. Reported in millimoles per liter (mmol/l)	Baseline, 16 weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Mayo Clinic
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Joshua Lee, PA-C,MPAS, Mayo Clinic

Publications and helpful links

Helpful Links

• Mayo Clinic Clinical Trials

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Estimated): June 1, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): January 1, 2028
• Study Completion (Estimated): January 1, 2029

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: May 5, 2026
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: May 5, 2026
• First Posted (Actual): May 11, 2026

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): May 11, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: May 5, 2026
• Last Verified: May 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Other Study ID Numbers: 26-001184

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No