Weighted vests have become a huge trend in the fitness world. You see celebrities wearing them, and they are all over social media. Many people wear them hoping to lose weight, build muscle, and even improve their bone strength, as what’s better than making these activities more of a challenge. These vests are especially popular with older women who want to protect their bones, which can become weaker after menopause. But does science actually support all the social media hype? The answer is a bit complicated. The benefits might not be as clear-cut as a marketing suggests, and a new study is adding to the discussion. Do Weighted Vests Improve Bone Health? The evidence on this is mixed. A recent study, published in the journal JAMA Network Open, looked at 150 obese adults. The researchers had one group wear a weighted vest for seven hours a day for a whole year. The result? The vests did not reduce the amount of bone loss in their hips. This finding was a surprise to many, especially since earlier research seemed to show the opposite. In fact, studies from the 1990s and 2000s suggested that weighted vests could help increase bone density and lower the risk of falls. More recently, a 2013 study found that postmenopausal women who exercised in a weighted vest for six weeks saw an increase in their bone density. Similarly, a 2015 study found that weighted vests helped postmenopausal women strengthen their leg muscles and improve bone density in their thigh bone. One possible reason for the different results is the way the studies were done. In the newer study, participants started with very light vests, which may not have been enough to stimulate bone growth. Experts agree that more research is needed to fully understand the effects of weighted vests on bone health. Can Weighted Vests Help with Weight Loss? Research on whether weighted vests help with weight loss is limited, but some studies show a potential link. Still, other research points to a potential link. For example, a 2020 study found that people who wore a heavier weighted vest for eight hours a day over three weeks lost more body fat than those who wore a lighter vest. Another small study from 2025 suggested that wearing a weighted vest along with a calorie-restricted diet could help people avoid gaining back weight they had lost. In the Wake Forest study, participants who wore weighted vests did lose about 10% of their body weight, but so did the other groups in the study who did not wear vests, suggesting the weight loss was likely from calorie cutting. While the evidence isn't conclusive, it seems that weighted vests might be a helpful tool for some people on their weight loss journey, but they are not a magic solution on their own. Should You Wear a Weighted Vest? The science is still developing, but weighted vests may be a useful tool for some people. Experts say they could be particularly beneficial for postmenopausal women and anyone looking to make their resistance workouts more challenging. If you decide to try a weighted vest, it's a good idea to keep the weight at or below 10% of your body weight. Always listen to your body and adjust your workout as needed.