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Weighted vests… You’ve seen them everywhere, but is there any truth to the hype—or is this just another fitness trend that sounds too good to be true?
In today's episode, Sue and Alex are cutting through the noise and diving deep into the actual research behind weighted vests. They're breaking down the studies, sharing their personal experiences, and revealing what the science really says about these claims.
Sue and Alex discuss why certain populations—especially high-performing women—need to be particularly careful about falling for quick-fix solutions. They'll also share what actually works for improving bone density, preserving muscle mass, and achieving sustainable fat loss.
Whether you've been tempted to jump on the weighted vest bandwagon or you're just curious about separating fact from fiction, this episode is a must-listen. Let's get into it!
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As always, it is our goal not only to supply you, the listener, with valuable insights on the topics or questions but also to plant some seeds for further research and thought. Be sure to like and subscribe and leave us a review wherever you're listening if you loved this episode!
Timestamps:
(0:00) The weighted vest phenomenon
(1:42) Our personal experience
(4:36) The claims you've kept seeing
(5:13) The research investigation
(5:37) Studies being referenced... But misunderstood
(7:29) Additional studies showing benefits... But with caveats
(9:51) Studies that actually tested walking
(14:56) The Peloton context
(18:15) The opportunity cost
(19:51) Fat loss claims
(21:06) The gravitostat hypothesis & human trials
(24:53) Tracking accuracy & compensatory behaviors
(26:31) What *actually* improves bone density, muscle mass, & fat loss
(28:18) Why bone density & muscle mass preservation matters so much
(30:40) The reasons high-performing women are especially vulnerable
(33:11) The things that *actually* work
(35:41) The key takeaway
Studies Mentioned:
Shaw & Snow (1998) - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9467434
Snow et al. (2000) - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10995045
Klentrou et al. (2007) - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17724395
Jessup et al. (2003) - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12585781
Tantiwiboonchai et al. (2011) - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22338922
Roghani et al. (2013) - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22441962
Beavers et al/ (2025) - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40540267
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Produced by: David Margittai | In Post Media
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