ADVERTISEMENT
How to Lose Weight Without Losing Bone
Weighted vests may help older adults retain bone density while dropping fat.
By Shirley Archer, JD, MA
Sep 28, 2020
| Earn 1 CEC - Take Quiz
Wearing a weighted vest may help older adults to successfully lose weight while protecting bone quality and density. Losing excess weight offers health benefits for older adults, but losing bone mass does not. And many who lose both weight and bone do not regain bone density, even if they regain the weight.
Wake Forest University researchers in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, conducted a 6-month pilot study in which participants wore a 2-pound vest for an average of 6.5 hours per day. People who wore the vest dramatically reduced hip bone loss when compared with those who did not wear the vest. The pilot study is available in The Journal of Frailty & Aging (2018; 7 [3], 198–203).
“With the weighted vest, you’re keeping yourself at an equal load while you lose weight,” says principal investigator Kristen M. Beavers, PhD, assistant professor in the Department of Health and Exercise Science. “We know that not all, but a lot, of bone loss that occurs when you drop pounds is because of this ‘unloading effect.’” This year, a new study to confirm WFU’s findings will follow 192 adults ages 60–85 in a randomized, controlled trial.
See also: Having the Bone Health Talk With Clients
When you buy something using the retail links in our content, we may earn a small commission. IDEA Health and Fitness Association does not accept money for editorial reviews. Read more about our Terms & Conditions and our Privacy Policy.
ADVERTISEMENT
Related Articles
Gait Retraining May Reduce Risk of “Runner’s Knee”
Working Moms Get Less Exercise
Physically Active Working Moms Cope Better
Subscribe to our Newsletter
Stay up tp date with our latest news and products.