“Increased Weight Loading Reduces Body Weight and Body Fat in Obese Subjects—A Proof of Concept Randomized Clinical Trial”, 2020-04-30 (; backlinks):
Background: Recently we provided evidence for a leptin-independent homeostatic regulation, the gravitostat, of body weight in rodents. The aim of the present translational proof of concept study was to test the gravitostat hypothesis in humans.
Method: We conducted a randomized controlled single center trial (ClinicalTrial.gov number, NCT03672903), to evaluate the efficacy of artificially increased weight loading on body weight in subjects with mild obesity (BMI 30–35 kg/m2). Subjects were either treated with a heavy (=high load; 11% of body weight) or light (=low load; 1% of body weight) weight vest for eight hours per day for three weeks. The primary outcome was change in body weight. Secondary outcomes included change in body fat mass and fat-free mass as measured using bioelectrical impedance analysis.
Results: In total 72 participants underwent randomization and 69 (36 high load and 33 low load) completed the study for the primary outcome. High load treatment resulted in a more pronounced relative body weight loss compared to low load treatment (mean difference −1.37%, 95% confidence interval (CI), −1.96 to −0.79; p = 1.5 × 10−5). High load treatment reduced fat mass (−4.04%, 95% CI, −6,53 to −1.55; p = 1.9 × 10−3) but not fat free mass (0.43%, 95% CI, −1.47 to 2.34; p = 0.65) compared to low load treatment.
Interpretation: Increased weight loading reduces body weight and fat mass in obese subjects in a similar way as previously shown in obese rodents. These findings demonstrate that there is weight loading dependent homeostatic regulation of body weight, the gravitostat, also in humans.