Is it possible to gain muscle without a surplus? The science of body recomposition
                                
                                
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                                    4 min read                                
                            
                                According to a 2016 study in the *American Journal of Clinical Nutrition*, participants on a high-protein, calorie-controlled diet with resistance training were able to build lean muscle while losing fat. This confirms that while challenging, it is possible to gain muscle without a surplus, a process often called body recomposition.