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I can find very little in terms of scientific study to talk about this. So, I went over to several places that sell them and became NO wiser. I did try them and found a number of interesting differences.

The ellipse by any name is a smooth, low impact, easy to learn, not dangerous machine. I was surprised how much less it's impact was than on an ordinary, even a well padded treadmill. It has very much the same "never touch the ground sensation" that steppers provide. The effort to operate it appears to offer a much wider range demand, making it more suitable for a wider group of ages and conditions. I would think that it's very weightless impact would make it not quite as well recommended for those who were interested in bone strengthening.

As far as weight reduction is concerned, I think it would be fine, used in the longer time frames felt necessary for weight reduction. I suspect that all the models presently on the market would NOT do for really obese folks, say over 220 give or take. They are just too complicated, with lots of joints. / GLD