# Effects of a higher protein diet and resistance training on fat free mass retention during weight loss in adults over 50: A Pilot Sequential Multiple Assignment Randomized Trial

> **NIH NIH K01** · UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA AT BIRMINGHAM · 2022 · $129,354

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT
Dr. Sayer’s career goal is to become an independent translational obesity scientist at the University of Alabama
at Birmingham (UAB) with a research program focused on the development of pragmatic and adaptive weight
loss interventions that can be rapidly implemented in clinical and community settings. The proposed K01 training
plan and research project will provide the knowledge, skills, and abilities to launch his independent research
career in pursuit of his long-term goals. Dr. Sayer’s training plan includes a combination of formal didactic training
available through the UAB Center for Outcomes and Effectiveness Research and Education (directed by Dr.
Kenneth Saag, Co-Mentor) as well as rigorous hands-on and personalized training through the NIH National
Rehabilitation Research Resource to Enhance Clinical Trials (directed by Dr. Marcas Bamman, Co-Mentor), UAB
Nutrition Obesity Research Center (directed by Dr. James Hill, Primary Mentor), and UAB Comprehensive
Center for Health Aging (directed by Dr. Cynthia Brow, Co-Mentor). The proposed K01 research is a pilot
Sequential Multiple Assignment Randomized Trial (SMART) using a high protein diet and resistance training to
promote the retention of fat free mass during weight loss in men with obesity aged 50 and older. The primary
objectives of the research are to provide critical preliminary data on 1) the feasibility of conducting a full-scale
SMART, 2) estimates of intervention effects and their variances, and 3) moderators or predictors of intervention
responsiveness that may serve as tailoring variables for a full-scale SMART. Dr. Sayer will leverage data and
training resulting from the proposed K01 to successfully compete for R01-level research funding to develop and
rigorously evaluate a full-scale SMART designed to construct an optimal adaptive treatment strategy using a HP
diet and RT for preventing and/or treating sarcopenic obesity.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10369646
- **Project number:** 5K01DK124244-02
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA AT BIRMINGHAM
- **Principal Investigator:** Richard Drew Sayer
- **Activity code:** K01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $129,354
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2021-03-10 → 2026-02-28

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10369646

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10369646, Effects of a higher protein diet and resistance training on fat free mass retention during weight loss in adults over 50: A Pilot Sequential Multiple Assignment Randomized Trial (5K01DK124244-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-26 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10369646. Licensed CC0.

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