Weighted vests cannot shield bones during weight loss in elderly people

A 12-month clinical trial involving 150 elderly people, publishing sober news for those who want a weighted vest that can solve ongoing medical challenges: how to help aging patients without sacrificing bone strength.

The study, published on JAMA Network Open, found that neither wearing a weighted vest for seven hours a day nor participating in supervised resistance training, preventing bone loss, often accompanied by intentional weight loss in people over the age of 60. All participants lost similar amounts of hip bone density, i.e., bone density between 1.2% and 1.9%-useless intervention group.

Bone loss dilemma

“While we hope that replacing weight loss or increasing mechanical loading with exercise can preserve bones, our findings suggest that these strategies alone may not be enough.”

The study involved clinical captures that affected millions of Americans22. Weight loss can improve cardiovascular health and joint function in obese elderly people, but it can also weaken bones and may increase the risk of fractures. It is becoming increasingly urgent to estimate that 72 million Americans are expected to reach 65 or older by 2030, most of whom are overweight or obese and can find safe weight loss options.

Test innovative strategies

Investment in bone health trials test whether weighted vests can trick bones into maintaining their strength by replacing body weight with external loads. Participants in the vest group wore the device on average for 7.1 hours a day and adjusted the vest weight weekly to match 78% of their weight loss.

This approach seems logical. Previous smaller studies have shown that weighted vests can preserve bone density during exercise, and the researchers themselves showed promising hip bone preservation signals in their own pilot study in 2017.

All three research groups (weight loss only, weight loss weight vest, weight loss and resistance training) all reduced pounds with weight loss, reducing weight by 9% to 11.2% in 12 months. In the intervention, compliance was higher, and resistance training participants participated in 71% of prescription sessions.

Key research results

• The hip bone mineral density was significantly reduced in all groups without the protection of weighted vests or resistance training
• During the entire year of study, weighted vest users remained on average for 7.1 hours a day.
• Compared to weight loss only
• Resistance training provides other benefits, including improving strength and physical exercise levels
• More than half of the weighted vest participants reported satisfaction with the intervention

Unexpected complications

The study reveals that some surprising findings may affect the results. Participants lost less bone and muscle than they usually see in weight loss studies, which may be due to nutritionally complete dietary replacement programs that provide adequate calcium, vitamin D and protein throughout the intervention.

Although all groups lost lean muscle mass, the amplitude was smaller than expected, while 20% of muscle loss and 10% of weight loss. Because muscle and bone health are closely related, this muscle preservation may reduce the potential of interventions to show additional skeletonal role.

Clinical significance

These findings do not spell the doom for weighted vests in fitness programs. Research continues to show that these devices can help older people improve strength and physical performance – a key factor in preventing disability. Beaver stressed that bone health represents only part of the crack prevention.

“The fractures in older adults can be life-changing,” she notes. “Our research reinforces our thinking that we need to go beyond traditional exercise and consider new or combinations of ways to protect our bones during weight loss.”

The team is already exploring alternative strategies, including collaboration in studying how osteoporosis drugs can help retain bones during weight loss, a trial called beacons (skeleton, exercise, alendronronate and Caloric restriction).

Drug Factors

The timing of this study proved particularly relevant, as new weight loss drugs such as Wegovi and Mounjaro gained widespread adoption. These highly effective drugs can produce rapid weight loss, raising concerns about accelerated bone loss in elderly patients who are already at an elevated risk of fissures.

The study included participants with an average age of 66.4 years with lower bone quality at baseline. Although demographic factors vary on the racial line (about 29% of African Americans or Blacks, while 67% of the population are white, bone loss patterns are consistent across the population.

Currently, search continues to find effective strategies to protect bone health during weight loss in the elderly population. The work of Wake Forest team highlights the complexity of managing obesity in older adults, where the benefits of weight loss must be carefully balanced with potential bone health consequences.

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