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. 2025 May 30;23:317. doi: 10.1186/s12916-025-04143-6

Table 2.

Analyses of the absolute changes in the main secondary endpoints for all participants eligible for per-protocol analysis

Low load
(n = 26)
High load
(n = 25)
Difference between groups P-value (ANCOVA)
Anthropometrics
 Body weight (kg) 0.25 (− 0.24, 0.73)  − 0.0005 (− 0.50, 0.50)  − 0.25 (− 0.95, 0.46) 0.482
 Waist circumference (cm) 0.4 (− 0.8, 1.6)  − 2.0 (− 3.2, − 0.8) **  − 2.4 (− 4.2, − 0.7) 0.006
DXA scan
 Fat percent (%) 0.35 (0.12, 0.59) *  − 0.66 (− 0.81, − 0.33) ***  − 0.9 (− 1.3, − 0.6) 2.3E-6
 Fat mass (g) 526.8 (213.4, 840.2) **  − 500.8 (− 820.5, − 181.1) **  − 1027.6 (− 1479.9, − 575.3) 3.8E-5
 Lean mass (g)  − 119.4 (− 538.3, 299.5) 588.8 (161.4, 1016.1) ** 708.2 (103.7, 1312.7) 0.023
 BMC (g) 3.3 (− 5.9, 12.5)  − 0.6 (− 10.0, 8.8)  − 3.9 (− 17.1, 9.4) 0.562
CT scan
 VAT (cm3)  − 2.84 (− 5.50, − 0.19) 0.04 (− 2.67, 2.75) 2.88 (− 0.95, 6.72) 0.136
 SAT (cm3)  − 0.84 (− 4.19, 2.50)  − 3.67 (− 7.09, − 0.26)  − 2.83 (− 7.66, 1.99) 0.243
 Liver fat (HU) 0.16 (− 1.23, 1.54) 1.51 (0.09, 2.92) * 1.35 (− 0.65, 3.35) 0.180
Physical activity
 Mean daily activity (mg) 0.76 (− 1.91, 3.43)  − 1.81 (− 4.54, 0.91)  − 2.57 (− 6.43, 1.28) 0.185
 Sedentary time (minutes/day)  − 25.77 (− 44.34, − 7.20) ** 6.76 (− 12.18, 25.71) 32.53 (5.74, 59.33) 0.018
 LPA (minutes/day) 10.37 (1.26, 19.48) ** 5.05 (− 4.24, 14.34)  − 5.32 (− 18.46, 7.83) 0.419
 MVPA (minutes/day) 1.71 (− 7.64, 11.06)  − 7.31 (− 16.85, 2.23)  − 9.02 (− 22.52, 4.47) 0.185
Energy balance
 Energy expenditure (MJ/day)  − 0.09 (− 0.47, 0.29)  − 0.23 (− 0.61, 0.16)  − 0.14 (− 0.68, 0.41) 0.615
 Energy intake (MJ/day) 0.10 (− 0.81, 1.00)  − 0.18 (− 1.10, 0.74)  − 0.28 (− 1.58, 1.03) 0.672

Results are presented as estimated marginal means with 95% confidence intervals for all participants. The between-group p-values (high load vs low load) given within the table are calculated using analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) adjusted for age, sex, baseline BMI, vest exposure (h) and standing % with vest. Within-group comparisons (5 weeks vs baseline) were made using Wilcoxon signed-rank test. *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, ***P < 0.001. Statistically significant differences are highlighted in bold. BMC bone mineral content, BMI body mass index, CT computed tomography, DXA dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, HU Hounsfield unit, Liver fat estimated as liver attenuation, LPA light physical activity, Mg milli-g (acceleration), MJ megajoules, MVPA moderate to vigorous physical activity, SAT subcutaneous adipose tissue in the abdominal region, VAT visceral adipose tissue in the abdominal region