Yes. The purpose of a weighted vest is to allow the body to carry extra mass during exercise. By adding artificial load – typically between five and 15 per cent of the wearer’s body weight – it forces you to work harder to maintain pace. Weighted vests can turn a walk, hill climb or strength exercise into a more demanding metabolic task. Part of their appeal lies in that simplicity.

 Read Fergus Scholes's full article in the Financial Times.