Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40442671›Full record

Trial reportBMC medicine2025

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.

Jakob Bellman, Klaas Westerterp, Loek Wouters, Marit Johannesson, Niklas Lundqvist, Joel Kullberg, Christel Larsson, Mikael Gustafsson, Stefan Pettersson, Jonatan Fridolfsson and 6 more

Registry-linked trialAbstract readRandomized Controlled Trial
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Trial report in BMC medicine, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to trial NCT04697238 (Effect of Artificial Loading, Through Application of Weight Vests, on Body Weight in Obese Subjects; a Randomized Controlled Trial), which is not on this map. Cited by 4 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

NCT04697238 nacompletednot on this map

Effect of Artificial Loading, Through Application of Weight Vests, on Body Weight in Obese Subjects; a Randomized Controlled Trial

TypeinterventionalSponsorVastra Gotaland RegionRan2021 to 2022Enrolled59ConditionsObesityArmsWeight vest
3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

4 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Trial
  2. Article
  3. Article
  4. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

16 authors.

Jakob BellmanDepartment of Physiology, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Medicinaregatan 11, SE-41390, Gothenburg, Sweden. jakob.bellman@gu.se.
Klaas WesterterpDepartment of Nutrition and Movement Sciences, NUTRIM School of Nutrition and Translational Research in Metabolism, Maastricht University Medical Centre, NL-6200 MD, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
Loek WoutersDepartment of Nutrition and Movement Sciences, NUTRIM School of Nutrition and Translational Research in Metabolism, Maastricht University Medical Centre, NL-6200 MD, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
Marit JohannessonDepartment of Radiology, Region Västra Götaland, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, SE-41345, Gothenburg, Sweden.
Niklas LundqvistDepartment of Radiology, Region Västra Götaland, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, SE-41345, Gothenburg, Sweden.
Joel KullbergRadiology, Department of Surgical Sciences, Uppsala University, SE-75185, Uppsala, Sweden.
Christel LarssonDepartment of Food and Nutrition, and Sport Science, Faculty of Education, University of Gothenburg, SE-40530, Gothenburg, Sweden.
Mikael GustafssonDepartment of Food and Nutrition, and Sport Science, Faculty of Education, University of Gothenburg, SE-40530, Gothenburg, Sweden.
Stefan PetterssonDepartment of Food and Nutrition, and Sport Science, Faculty of Education, University of Gothenburg, SE-40530, Gothenburg, Sweden.
Jonatan FridolfssonDepartment of Food and Nutrition, and Sport Science, Faculty of Education, University of Gothenburg, SE-40530, Gothenburg, Sweden.
Daniel ArvidssonDepartment of Food and Nutrition, and Sport Science, Faculty of Education, University of Gothenburg, SE-40530, Gothenburg, Sweden.
Mats BörjessonDepartment of Food and Nutrition, and Sport Science, Faculty of Education, University of Gothenburg, SE-40530, Gothenburg, Sweden.
Dan CuriacGothia Forum, Region Västra Götaland, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, SE-41346, Gothenburg, Sweden, Gothia Forum.
John-Olov JanssonDepartment of Physiology, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Medicinaregatan 11, SE-41390, Gothenburg, Sweden.
Per-Anders JanssonGothia Forum, Region Västra Götaland, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, SE-41346, Gothenburg, Sweden, Gothia Forum.
Claes OhlssonSahlgrenska Osteoporosis Centre, Centre for Bone and Arthritis Research, Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, SE-41345, Gothenburg, Sweden.

Funding

ALF-agreement ALFGBG-965051Göteborgs Läkaresällskap 22/972547Knut och Alice Wallenbergs Stiftelse KAW 2020.0230Stiftelsen Mary von Sydows, född Wijk, donationsfond 2024-139Torsten Söderbergs Stiftelse MT3/20
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundTo investigate the effects of increased weight-loading on body weight, body composition, fat mass distribution, physical activity and energy balance in individuals with obesity.

methodsThis 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/m

resultsHigh-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.

conclusionsIncreased 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 registrationRegistered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT04697238) in 2021.

Indexed as

Body CompositionObesityWaist CircumferenceAdultBody Mass IndexBody WeightEnergy MetabolismExerciseFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedBody compositionEnergy balanceFat mass distributionObesityStanding positionWeight-bearingWeight-loading

Identifiers

PMID40442671
PMCPMC12123769

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.