What Weighted Vests do to your Body: New Evidence!

Summary

A recent pilot study on weighted vests reveals their potential long-term benefits for weight loss and metabolism. Over six months, participants using a weighted vest saw similar weight loss to those without, but after two years, the vest users maintained more of their weight loss. Furthermore, the study found that weighted vests helped preserve resting metabolic rate, even after their use stopped. This could be due to a bone-related hormonal response, offering new insights into how weighted vests might support sustained weight management and metabolic health.

Takeaways

• 😀 Weighted vests were studied in a pilot study involving 18 overweight participants, some of whom had osteoarthritis, to examine their impact on weight loss and metabolism.
• 😀 The study tracked participants for 6 months while they followed a calorie deficit diet, with some using a weighted vest, to observe the short-term effects of the vest on weight loss.
• 😀 The study also included a 2-year follow-up to observe the long-term effects of wearing a weighted vest on weight maintenance, even after the vest usage stopped.
• 😀 The study found that participants who wore the weighted vest were able to maintain some of their weight loss over 2 years, whereas those who didn’t regain all the weight they lost.
• 😀 The hormonal mechanisms behind weight loss and maintenance were highlighted, specifically the role of leptin, which is reduced when body fat decreases, increasing feelings of hunger.
• 😀 The gravitto hypothesis, which involves bone cells called osteocytes sensing pressure from weight-bearing activity, was discussed. This pressure causes osteocytes to release molecules that affect metabolism and hunger.
• 😀 Participants who wore the weighted vest showed a more sustained resting metabolic rate (RMR), even after the study period, compared to those who didn't wear the vest.
• 😀 The study's findings suggest that wearing a weighted vest may help preserve metabolism, especially resting metabolism, during weight loss, which is often a challenge during caloric restriction.
• 😀 Despite potential concerns about muscle loss, the study indicated that muscle mass likely wasn't the primary factor maintaining the metabolic rate, suggesting other physiological mechanisms at play.
• 😀 The presenter offers a structured protocol for using weighted vests, including the right amount of weight and frequency for optimal results with minimal risk, available to Physionic Insiders for further exploration.
• 😀 Overall, the pilot study suggests that weighted vests may be a valuable tool for long-term weight and fat loss maintenance, and may help preserve metabolism during the process.

Q & A

What was the focus of the small study involving weighted vests?

The study focused on understanding the effects of weighted vests on long-term weight loss and metabolism, specifically over a 2-year period after 6 months of using the vests.

What groups were involved in the study?

The study involved two groups: one following a calorie deficit diet and another following the same diet but incorporating weighted vests into their routine.

How long did participants wear the weighted vests in the study?

Participants wore the weighted vests for 6 months during the study period.

What surprising result did the study reveal about weight loss maintenance?

The surprising result was that, while both groups lost similar amounts of weight initially, those who used the weighted vest were able to maintain some of the weight loss over the following 2 years, even without continuing to wear the vest.

What is the role of leptin in weight loss and metabolism?

Leptin is a hormone secreted by fat cells (adipocytes). It signals the brain to reduce hunger when you're well-fed. However, when you lose body fat, leptin levels drop, which increases hunger and makes weight loss maintenance challenging.

What is the gravitto hypothesis mentioned in the script?

The gravitto hypothesis suggests that the pressure applied to bones, such as from wearing a weighted vest, triggers bone cells (osteocytes) to release molecules that influence both metabolism and food consumption.

How do osteocytes in the bones respond to pressure?

Osteocytes, which are bone cells, detect pressure and release molecules that can affect metabolism and hunger by signaling the brain, much like leptin does.

What happened to metabolism in the study participants who wore the weighted vest?

Participants who wore the weighted vest maintained their resting metabolic rate, even after the 6 months of vest use had ended, while those not using the vest experienced a reduction in metabolism.

Why is the finding about resting metabolic rate significant?

The significance lies in the fact that resting metabolic rate is the energy burned by the body at rest. Maintaining a higher resting metabolism helps with weight maintenance, making it a key factor in long-term weight loss success.

What is the potential impact of wearing a weighted vest on muscle mass?

While muscle mass could contribute to maintaining metabolism, the study suggests that maintaining muscle mass alone does not fully explain the sustained metabolic effects observed in the vest users, indicating that other mechanisms, like the gravitto hypothesis, may play a role.