StudyRepo

Does weighted vest use during weight loss influence long-term weight loss maintenance? A pilot study in older adults living with obesity and osteoarthritis

by Carson DeLong, Barbara J. Nicklas, Daniel P. Beavers, Jason Fanning, Kristen M. Beavers

Abstract: The purpose of this study was to explore whether and how gravitational loading during intentional weight loss (WL) influences subsequent weight regain. Pilot data come from a convenience sample of 18 older adults (70.4 ± 3.1 years, 83% women, 78% white) with obesity who participated in a 6-month WL intervention and also returned for 24-month follow-up assessment. Participants were originally assigned to 6-months of caloric restriction plus 10 h/day weighted vest use (WL+VEST; n = 9) or caloric restriction only (WL Only; n = 9). Body weight (BW) and resting metabolic rate (RMR) were collected at baseline, 6, and 24 months. WL+VEST and WL Only participants lost significant and similar amounts of BW by 6-months [WL+VEST: –11.2 kg (95% CI: −14.6, −7.7) versus WL Only: –10.3 kg (95% CI: −13.7, −6.8)]; p = 0.71. By 24-months, the WL+VEST group regained approximately half of lost BW [−4.8 kg from baseline (95% CI: −9.6, 0.1)], while the WL Only group regained all lost BW [+0.9 kg from baseline (95% CI: −3.9, 5.8)]; p = 0.10. Change in RMR from baseline to 6 months was −16.3 (95% CI: –100.8, 68.2) kcal/day and −237.5 (95% CI: −321.9, −153.0) kcal/day for the WL+VEST and WL Only groups, respectively (p < 0.01); and was modestly and inversely associated with change in BW from 6 to 24 months (r = −0.39, p = 0.11). Pilot data signal weighted vest use during caloric restriction may be associated with reduced weight regain via preserved RMR.Study Overview and Results. Created with BioRender.com.

gravistat

Obese old people with self-reported arthritis were put on a weight loss program or a weight loss program + a weighted vest for 6 months. A subgroup of both arms returned after 24 months for follow-up examination. The weight loss portion was a "Medifast plan" with 1000-1300 kcal/day. The weighted vest group was asked to wear the vest up to 10h a day during their "active hours" so it wasn't exercise per se, it was long-time wearing of a vest. Weight in the vest was increased weekly to compensate for body weight lost, up to 15% of their body weight. After the 6 month WL+vest protocol, participants were no longer monitored, were instructed to eat as normal, and no longer had the vest. WL and WL+vest groups lost similar amounts of weight & fat, around 10-11kg, of which 1/4 was lean mass. At the 24 month checkin, the WL group regained all their lost weight, whereas the WL+vest group only regained half their weight. Interestingly, at 6 months, the WL group had a reduction of about 240kcal/day in their RMR, whereas the WL+vest group did not have a significant reduction. At the 24 month checkin, the WL group had recovered their RMR, and the WL+vest group was, again, the same. This indicates that wearing the vest prevented a reduction in RMR induced by caloric restriction in the WL-only group.

doi: 10.1038/s41366-025-01795-5

Original source: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41366-025-01795-5