{"id":188756,"date":"2025-08-31T05:06:12","date_gmt":"2025-08-31T05:06:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/188756\/"},"modified":"2025-08-31T05:06:12","modified_gmt":"2025-08-31T05:06:12","slug":"new-fitness-craze-born-from-military-training-methods-sweeps-social-media-with-experts-urging-caution","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/188756\/","title":{"rendered":"New fitness craze born from military training methods sweeps social media, with experts urging caution"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">A new fitness trend inspired by military conditioning methods is sweeping social media, but healthcare professionals are urging caution over the workout.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">The new found craze revolves around wearing weighted vests while walking or working out, a throwback to military rucking and athletic training.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">Users are pushing it as a quick way\u00a0to boost calorie burn, increase endurance, and fast-track fitness results.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">On <a style=\"font-weight: bold;\" target=\"_self\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dailymail.co.uk\/news\/tiktok\/index.html\" id=\"mol-db194990-8618-11f0-a240-6964d1dd617e\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">TikTok<\/a>, the hashtag #weightedvest has racked up more than 30 million views, with influencers claiming the gear can help users shed weight and become &#8216;unrecognizable.&#8217;<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">But while the sleek, modern versions of the vests may look trendy, experts say their sudden popularity comes with risks if misused.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">&#8216;They&#8217;ve been used for decades in athletic and military training, but social media has helped reintroduce them to mainstream fitness,&#8217; Dr. Mark Kovacs, a sports scientist and longevity expert, told <a style=\"font-weight: bold;\" class=\"class\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/health\/military-workout-tactic-goes-viral-new-fitness-craze-anyone-can-do\">Fox News.<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">&#8216;The appeal is simple: You turn everyday walking into a slightly more demanding workout without changing the movement.&#8217;<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">Still, Kovacs recommends starting slow. The Atlanta-based doctor urged fanatics to use vests weighing no more than 10 percent of your body weight, beginning with 15-30 minute sessions, and prioritizing posture.<\/p>\n<p>   <img decoding=\"async\" id=\"i-18365f9ccb680e06\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/101701219-15051129-image-a-55_1756610219196.jpg\" height=\"423\" width=\"634\" alt=\"The new found craze revolves around wearing weighted vests while walking or working out, a throwback to military rucking and athletic training\" class=\"blkBorder img-share\" style=\"max-width:100%\" loading=\"lazy\" \/>   <\/p>\n<p class=\"imageCaption\">The new found craze revolves around wearing weighted vests while walking or working out, a throwback to military rucking and athletic training\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>   <img decoding=\"async\" id=\"i-9e8c7d5a18b0b492\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/101701221-15051129-Users_are_pushing_it_as_a_quick_way_to_boost_calorie_burn_increa-a-76_17566120797.jpeg\" height=\"995\" width=\"634\" alt=\"Users are pushing it as a quick way to boost calorie burn, increase endurance, and fast-track fitness results\" class=\"blkBorder img-share\" style=\"max-width:100%\" loading=\"lazy\" \/>   <\/p>\n<p class=\"imageCaption\">Users are pushing it as a quick way to boost calorie burn, increase endurance, and fast-track fitness results<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">&#8216;Always listen to your body. Discomfort is a sign to back off,&#8217; he said. &#8216;Weighted vests can be a great supplement, but they don&#8217;t replace strength training or higher-intensity cardio.&#8217;<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">Inspired by the century-old military practice of rucking &#8211; marching long distances with a weighted pack &#8211; weighted vests are now widely available online and even incorporated into high-end gym classes, like Equinox&#8217;s &#8216;Fully Vested&#8217; treadmill workouts.<\/p>\n<p>   <img decoding=\"async\" id=\"i-57caf29efedd8f86\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/101701295-15051129-image-m-62_1756610296808.jpg\" height=\"289\" width=\"306\" alt=\"But, experts say their sudden popularity comes with risks if misused. Pictured:\u00a0Dr. Mark Kovacs\" class=\"blkBorder img-share\" style=\"max-width:100%\" loading=\"lazy\" \/>   <\/p>\n<p class=\"imageCaption\">But, experts say their sudden popularity comes with risks if misused. Pictured:\u00a0Dr. Mark Kovacs<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">Prices for the trending fitness gear can range anywhere from $30 on Amazon to $375 for premium versions.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">Certified trainer Sarah Fuhrmann explained the attraction is partly psychological.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">&#8216;Just strap on and walk, and fitness ensues,&#8217; she said. &#8216;Social media often makes old tools look new.&#8217;<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">Fuhrmann agreed, adding, &#8216;They&#8217;re not a shortcut to fitness. If the choice is between a vest and a solid strength program, choose the weights in the gym every time.&#8217;<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">The trend also taps into evolutionary ideas about fitness. On his popular &#8216;Huberman Lab&#8217; podcast, author Michael Easter noted, &#8216;Humans are the only mammals that can pick up weight and carry it long distances.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">&#8216;We carried everything &#8211; food, tools, even babies &#8211; for most of history. Technology has stripped carrying out of our lives, but we were literally born to do it.&#8217;<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">Despite the hype, science on the long-term health benefits of weighted vest use remains limited.<\/p>\n<p>   <img decoding=\"async\" id=\"i-dde41db82cd441f1\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/101701199-15051129-The_new_fitness_trend_inspired_by_military_conditioning_is_a_thr-a-75_17566120797.jpeg\" height=\"427\" width=\"634\" alt=\"The\u00a0new fitness trend inspired by military conditioning is a throwback to military rucking and athletic training. Pictured: A US Army man and woman wear weighted vests while doing pushups in a field\" class=\"blkBorder img-share\" style=\"max-width:100%\" loading=\"lazy\" \/>   <\/p>\n<p class=\"imageCaption\">The\u00a0new fitness trend inspired by military conditioning is a throwback to military rucking and athletic training. Pictured: A US Army man and woman wear weighted vests while doing pushups in a field<\/p>\n<p>   <img decoding=\"async\" id=\"i-d5004c2811875741\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/101701201-15051129-image-a-60_1756610263623.jpg\" height=\"423\" width=\"634\" alt=\"Experts recommend using vests weighing no more than 10 percent of your body weight, beginning with 15-30 minute sessions, and prioritizing posture\" class=\"blkBorder img-share\" style=\"max-width:100%\" loading=\"lazy\" \/>   <\/p>\n<p class=\"imageCaption\">Experts recommend using vests weighing no more than 10 percent of your body weight, beginning with 15-30 minute sessions, and prioritizing posture<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">While studies show they can increase calorie burn and improve cardiovascular demand, results on impacts like bone density are mixed.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">One study found obese adults lost about 10 percent of their body weight using vests, but without improved bone health.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">&#8216;This study&#8217;s findings are counter to some research and consistent with others,&#8217; Dr. Colin Haines, a spine surgeon and research director at Virginia Spine Institute, said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">&#8216;The broader body of evidence includes both neutral and positive results.&#8217;<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">Other small-scale studies have shown promise &#8211; particularly for postmenopausal women &#8211; including improved leg strength and femur bone density.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"A new fitness trend inspired by military conditioning methods is sweeping social media, but healthcare professionals are urging&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":188757,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[38],"tags":[2431,211,1198,654,210,2397,67,132,68],"class_list":{"0":"post-188756","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-fitness","8":"tag-amazon","9":"tag-dailymail","10":"tag-fitness","11":"tag-fox-news","12":"tag-health","13":"tag-tiktok","14":"tag-united-states","15":"tag-unitedstates","16":"tag-us"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@us\/115121644133550820","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/188756","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=188756"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/188756\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/188757"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=188756"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=188756"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=188756"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}