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

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.