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Physical Fitness in Morbidly Obese Patients: Effect of Gastric Bypass Surgery and Exercise Training

  • Physiology Research
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Abstract

Background

There is a growing consensus that bariatric surgery is currently the most efficacious and long-term treatment for clinically severe obesity. However, it remains to be determined whether poor physical fitness, an important characteristic of these patients, improves as well. The purpose of this pilot study is to investigate the effect of gastric bypass surgery on physical fitness and to determine if an exercise program in the first 4 months is beneficial.

Methods

Fifteen morbidly obese patients (BMI 43.0 kg/m2) were tested before and 4 months after gastric bypass surgery. Eight of them followed a combined endurance and strength training program. Before and after 4 months the operation, anthropometrical characteristics were measured, and an extensive assessment of physical fitness (strength, aerobic, and functional capacity) was performed.

Results

Large-scale weight loss through gastric bypass surgery results in a decrease in dynamic and static muscle strength and no improvement of aerobic capacity. In contrast, an intensive exercise program could prevent the decrease and even induced an increase in strength of most muscle groups. Together with an improvement in aerobic capacity, functional capacity increased significantly. Both groups evolved equally with regard to body composition (decrease in fat mass and fat-free mass).

Conclusions

An exercise training program in the first 4 months after bariatric surgery is effective and should be promoted, considering the fact that physical fitness does not improve by weight loss only.

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Acknowledgments

This study was financially supported by a grant from the University Ghent (BOF-project, NR. 01J07007) and by Ethicon Endo-Surgery (A Johnson & Johnson Company). Patients were recruited from the University Hospital Ghent, Belgium (Europe) and from AZ Nikolaas, Sint-Niklaas, Belgium (Europe).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department Movement and Sport Sciences, Ghent University, Watersportlaan 2, 9000, Ghent, Belgium

    Sanne Stegen & Wim Derave

  2. Department Rehabilitation Sciences and Physiotherapy, Ghent University, De Pintelaan 185, 9000, Ghent, Belgium

    Sanne Stegen, Patrick Calders & Christophe Van Laethem

  3. Department of Surgery, Ghent University and University Hospital Ghent, De Pintelaan 185, 9000, Ghent, Belgium

    Sanne Stegen & Piet Pattyn

Authors
  1. Sanne Stegen
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  2. Wim Derave
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Correspondence to Sanne Stegen.

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Stegen, S., Derave, W., Calders, P. et al. Physical Fitness in Morbidly Obese Patients: Effect of Gastric Bypass Surgery and Exercise Training. OBES SURG 21, 61–70 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11695-009-0045-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11695-009-0045-y

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