The loss of muscle mass and bone density during weight loss is partially attributed to the decrease in mechanical stress on these tissues as weight is reduced. As a result, performing exercises that enhance muscle and gravitational loading during the period of caloric restriction usually diminishes the relative amount of muscle and bone loss for a given weight loss, but these interventions do not fully prevent all muscle and bone loss.In addition, conventional exercise training interventions often require expensive equipment, on-site participation, and, ideally for older, obese adults, safety supervision by trained exercise leaders. Moreover, the exercises performed may not fully translate into improvement in daily tasks due to training specificity, and are not always tolerated or sustained, especially in obese persons with OA. On the other hand, it is conceivable that treating the decrease in mechanical load from weight loss by externally replacing lost weight via use of a weighted vest may also be effective for reducing muscle and bone loss during caloric restriction. In animal models, mechanisms regulating skeletal tissue structure and function respond in a similar fashion to increases in actual or externally-added body mass. Also, research shows that exercising while wearing weighted vests can improve bone density, muscle mass, and lower extremity strength in older adults. However, no prior studies have examined the effects of weighted vest use on muscle mass and bone density during a period of intentional weight loss.