Chest Weight Vest

Over the 12-month period, participants in the WL+VEST group reported an average (SD) wearing time of 7.1 (1.5) hours per day for the weighted vest, with the vest accounting for 78.0% (29.9%) of the weight loss; participants randomly assigned to the WL+RT group attended an average (SD) of 71.4% (19.1%) of the training sessions. At 12 months, all treatment groups showed a significant decrease in total hip trabecular vBMD (range -1.2% to -1.9%). There was no significant difference between the WL+VEST group and the WL group (estimated treatment difference +0.91 mg/cm³; 97.5% CI, -0.27 to 2.09 mg/cm³; P = 0.13), and the WL+VEST group did not show inferiority compared to the WL+RT group (estimated treatment difference of +0.29 mg/cm³; lower limit of the 98.75% confidence interval was -1.05 mg/cm³). Similar results were observed for total hip aBMD.

Conclusions and implications: In this 12-month randomized clinical trial, neither the use of a weighted vest nor progressive resistance training was effective in mitigating hip bone loss associated with weight loss in obese older adults. This study emphasizes the need to explore alternative or adjunctive strategies to prevent bone loss in weight-loss populations, as exercise alone may be insufficient.

The Acute and Long-Term Effects of Weighted Vest Training on Sprint Performance: A Systematic Review

Key points: It can evenly distribute overload around the individual's center of mass, potentially enhancing the ability to generate ground reaction force and power during sprinting. Weighted vests increase vertical load during ground contact, enhance vertical braking force, and can effectively overload the stretch-shortening cycle. This systematic review aims to quantify the acute and longitudinal effects of weighted vests during sprinting.