Increased weight-load improves body composition by reducing fat mass and waist circumference, and by increasing lean mass in participants with obesity: a single-centre randomised controlled trial
Abstract Background To investigate the effects of increased weight-loading on body weight, body composition, fat mass distribution, physical activity and energy balance in individuals with obesity. Methods This single-centre non-blinded randomised controlled trial was conducted from August 1, 2021,...
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BMC
2025-05-01
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12916-025-04143-6 |
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| author | Jakob Bellman Klaas Westerterp Loek Wouters Marit Johannesson Niklas Lundqvist Joel Kullberg Christel Larsson Mikael Gustafsson Stefan Pettersson Jonatan Fridolfsson Daniel Arvidsson Mats Börjesson Dan Curiac John-Olov Jansson Per-Anders Jansson Claes Ohlsson |
| author_facet | Jakob Bellman Klaas Westerterp Loek Wouters Marit Johannesson Niklas Lundqvist Joel Kullberg Christel Larsson Mikael Gustafsson Stefan Pettersson Jonatan Fridolfsson Daniel Arvidsson Mats Börjesson Dan Curiac John-Olov Jansson Per-Anders Jansson Claes Ohlsson |
| author_sort | Jakob Bellman |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background To investigate the effects of increased weight-loading on body weight, body composition, fat mass distribution, physical activity and energy balance in individuals with obesity. Methods This single-centre non-blinded randomised controlled trial was conducted from August 1, 2021, through February 28, 2022. Adults with obesity class 1 (body mass index, BMI 30–35 kg/m2) were assigned to wear either a heavy (high load; 11% of body weight, n = 28) or light (low load; 1% of body weight, n = 30) weight vest for 8 h per day over 5 weeks. Results High-load treatment reduced fat mass (mean difference − 2.60%; 95% CI − 3.79, − 1.41) and increased lean mass (mean difference 1.40%; 95% CI 0.37, 2.42), with no significant effect on body weight. Fat mass reductions were primarily observed in weight-loaded regions but not in the non-weight-bearing regions such as the arms. Waist circumference decreased (mean difference − 2.26%; 95% CI − 3.81, − 0.71) in the high-load group compared to the low-load group. Despite these beneficial changes, sedentary time was higher in the high-load group (mean difference 4.69%; 95% CI 0.98, 8.39) compared to the low-load group, while energy expenditure and energy intake remained unchanged. Conclusions Increased weight-loading reduced fat mass and increased lean mass, resulting in a healthier body composition. These effects were achieved despite no increase in physical activity. The fat mass-reducing effect was primarily seen in weight-loaded regions, implying local adaptation to the increased loading. Trial registration Registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT04697238) in 2021. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-fd047a5e3fd3482c825e19493806ed21 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 1741-7015 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
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| series | BMC Medicine |
| spelling | doaj-art-fd047a5e3fd3482c825e19493806ed212025-08-20T02:00:09ZengBMCBMC Medicine1741-70152025-05-0123111210.1186/s12916-025-04143-6Increased weight-load improves body composition by reducing fat mass and waist circumference, and by increasing lean mass in participants with obesity: a single-centre randomised controlled trialJakob Bellman0Klaas Westerterp1Loek Wouters2Marit Johannesson3Niklas Lundqvist4Joel Kullberg5Christel Larsson6Mikael Gustafsson7Stefan Pettersson8Jonatan Fridolfsson9Daniel Arvidsson10Mats Börjesson11Dan Curiac12John-Olov Jansson13Per-Anders Jansson14Claes Ohlsson15Department of Physiology, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of GothenburgDepartment of Nutrition and Movement Sciences, NUTRIM School of Nutrition and Translational Research in Metabolism, Maastricht University Medical CentreDepartment of Nutrition and Movement Sciences, NUTRIM School of Nutrition and Translational Research in Metabolism, Maastricht University Medical CentreDepartment of Radiology, Region Västra Götaland, Sahlgrenska University HospitalDepartment of Radiology, Region Västra Götaland, Sahlgrenska University HospitalRadiology, Department of Surgical Sciences, Uppsala UniversityDepartment of Food and Nutrition, and Sport Science, Faculty of Education, University of GothenburgDepartment of Food and Nutrition, and Sport Science, Faculty of Education, University of GothenburgDepartment of Food and Nutrition, and Sport Science, Faculty of Education, University of GothenburgDepartment of Food and Nutrition, and Sport Science, Faculty of Education, University of GothenburgDepartment of Food and Nutrition, and Sport Science, Faculty of Education, University of GothenburgDepartment of Food and Nutrition, and Sport Science, Faculty of Education, University of GothenburgGothia Forum, Region Västra Götaland, Sahlgrenska University HospitalDepartment of Physiology, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of GothenburgGothia Forum, Region Västra Götaland, Sahlgrenska University HospitalSahlgrenska Osteoporosis Centre, Centre for Bone and Arthritis Research, Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of GothenburgAbstract Background To investigate the effects of increased weight-loading on body weight, body composition, fat mass distribution, physical activity and energy balance in individuals with obesity. Methods This single-centre non-blinded randomised controlled trial was conducted from August 1, 2021, through February 28, 2022. Adults with obesity class 1 (body mass index, BMI 30–35 kg/m2) were assigned to wear either a heavy (high load; 11% of body weight, n = 28) or light (low load; 1% of body weight, n = 30) weight vest for 8 h per day over 5 weeks. Results High-load treatment reduced fat mass (mean difference − 2.60%; 95% CI − 3.79, − 1.41) and increased lean mass (mean difference 1.40%; 95% CI 0.37, 2.42), with no significant effect on body weight. Fat mass reductions were primarily observed in weight-loaded regions but not in the non-weight-bearing regions such as the arms. Waist circumference decreased (mean difference − 2.26%; 95% CI − 3.81, − 0.71) in the high-load group compared to the low-load group. Despite these beneficial changes, sedentary time was higher in the high-load group (mean difference 4.69%; 95% CI 0.98, 8.39) compared to the low-load group, while energy expenditure and energy intake remained unchanged. Conclusions Increased weight-loading reduced fat mass and increased lean mass, resulting in a healthier body composition. These effects were achieved despite no increase in physical activity. The fat mass-reducing effect was primarily seen in weight-loaded regions, implying local adaptation to the increased loading. Trial registration Registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT04697238) in 2021.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12916-025-04143-6ObesityWeight-bearingWeight-loadingStanding positionBody compositionFat mass distribution |
| spellingShingle | Jakob Bellman Klaas Westerterp Loek Wouters Marit Johannesson Niklas Lundqvist Joel Kullberg Christel Larsson Mikael Gustafsson Stefan Pettersson Jonatan Fridolfsson Daniel Arvidsson Mats Börjesson Dan Curiac John-Olov Jansson Per-Anders Jansson Claes Ohlsson Increased weight-load improves body composition by reducing fat mass and waist circumference, and by increasing lean mass in participants with obesity: a single-centre randomised controlled trial BMC Medicine Obesity Weight-bearing Weight-loading Standing position Body composition Fat mass distribution |
| title | Increased weight-load improves body composition by reducing fat mass and waist circumference, and by increasing lean mass in participants with obesity: a single-centre randomised controlled trial |
| title_full | Increased weight-load improves body composition by reducing fat mass and waist circumference, and by increasing lean mass in participants with obesity: a single-centre randomised controlled trial |
| title_fullStr | Increased weight-load improves body composition by reducing fat mass and waist circumference, and by increasing lean mass in participants with obesity: a single-centre randomised controlled trial |
| title_full_unstemmed | Increased weight-load improves body composition by reducing fat mass and waist circumference, and by increasing lean mass in participants with obesity: a single-centre randomised controlled trial |
| title_short | Increased weight-load improves body composition by reducing fat mass and waist circumference, and by increasing lean mass in participants with obesity: a single-centre randomised controlled trial |
| title_sort | increased weight load improves body composition by reducing fat mass and waist circumference and by increasing lean mass in participants with obesity a single centre randomised controlled trial |
| topic | Obesity Weight-bearing Weight-loading Standing position Body composition Fat mass distribution |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12916-025-04143-6 |
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