Does wearing a weighted vest burn more calories on walks?

Yes—walking with a weighted vest burned about 12–13% more calories in the tests reported, compared with walking without one. The Times-Tribune article reviews Weighted Vest Training, citing the American College of Sports Medicine. The walking tests involved adults ages 18–55 who were not trained. They compared energy used while walking with and without a vest. At 2.5 mph, a vest weighing 15% of body Weight increased calorie use by about 12%. At 3 mph, a 20% load increased it by 13%. Those test loads were above the article’s recommended range of 5–10%. The reported results do not show the calorie increase at lighter loads. They also do not show whether people lost more body fat over time. The article describes possible benefits for Bone Mineral Density, fitness, and strength for everyday tasks. Added load can signal bones to renew themselves. But the excerpt gives no measured bone changes or timeline. Its clearest numbers concern energy used during walks, not long-term bone gains. Fit and movement choice matter, too. The article favors a snug vest with adjustable straps and loads. It recommends movements without jumping or running, and notes extra concerns for people with already weakened bones. For BioSocial members, these findings offer a useful way to compare routines. Logs could pair vest load and walk length with Walking Speed. Members tracking Active Calories Burned can compare their own records without expecting the same percentage increase. Sharing how hard each walk felt adds context that numbers alone miss. What changes have you noticed in your walk records or effort when wearing a vest?