This Simple Tool May Be The Secret to Maintaining Weight Loss

Heavy: Most people who lose weight gain it back within a year or two. Some of that is explained by the fact that a smaller body naturally needs fewer calories to maintain. But research shows that metabolism after weight loss drops further than body size alone would explain. So a new pilot study from Wake Forest University tested whether wearing a weighted vest could prevent weight gain.

The Study: Researchers followed 18 older, obese adults through six months of calorie restriction. Half wore a weighted vest up to 10 hours a day, loaded to about 10% of body weight. Both groups lost similar amounts of weight. But two years later, the vest group had kept off about half of what they’d lost, while the diet-only group had regained nearly all of it.

The Takeaway: There’s a theory that the skeleton senses body weight and signals the brain to defend against weight loss. A weighted vest may trick that system into sensing a heavier body, which may help prevent metabolism from slowing.

Keep in Mind: Anyone considering a weighted vest, especially if they have joint or health issues, should check with a doctor first.