Physical activity and weight loss following bariatric surgery

Surgery for Severe Obesity

Bariatric surgery has been demonstrated to be an effective treatment for patients with severe obesity, producing improvements in many comorbid conditions, including type 2 diabetes, hypertension, obstructive sleep apnea, and dyslipidemia. The loss of body weight and resolution of comorbidities have been more recently found to be the result of functional and metabolic changes produced by the surgical procedures. Nonetheless, bariatric surgery is still considered to be a tool that is supported by health behaviors characteristic of all weight loss programs—that is, adoption of healthy eating patterns, engagement in robust physical activity, and implementation of constructive coping strategies. In addition, patients who undergo bariatric surgery face challenges that are particular to this population, including adjustment to rapid and significant reduction in body weight, forced alterations in eating behavior, and risk of alcohol misuse. This state-of-the-art review focuses on the research and resultant recommendations regarding lifestyle management for patients who have undergone bariatric surgery.

Pre- to postoperative changes in physical activity: report from the longitudinal assessment of bariatric surgery-2 (LABS-2)

BACKGROUND

Numerous studies have reported that bariatric surgery patients report more physical activity (PA) after surgery than before; however, the quality of the PA assessment has been questionable.

METHODS

The longitudinal assessment of bariatric surgery-2 is a 10-center longitudinal study of adults undergoing bariatric surgery. Of 2458 participants, 455 were given an activity monitor, which records the steps per minute, and an exercise diary before and 1 year after surgery. The mean number of steps/d, active min/d, and high-cadence min/wk were calculated for 310 participants who wore the monitor ≥10 hr/d for ≥3 days at both evaluations. Pre- and postoperative PA were compared for differences using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test. Generalized estimating equations were used to identify independent preoperative predictors of postoperative PA.

RESULTS

PA increased significantly (P < .0001) from before to after surgery for all PA measures. The median values before and after surgery were 7563 and 8788 steps/d, 309 and 340 active min/d, and 72 and 112 high-cadence min/wk, respectively. However, depending on the PA measure, 24-29% of participants were ≥5% less active postoperatively than preoperatively. Controlling for surgical procedure, gender, age, and body mass index, more PA preoperatively independently predicted for more PA postoperatively (P < .0001, for all PA measures). Less pain, not having asthma, and the self-report of increasing PA as a weight loss strategy preoperatively also independently predicted for more high-cadence min/wk postoperatively (P < .05).

CONCLUSIONS

The majority of adults increase their PA level after bariatric surgery. However, most remain insufficiently active, and some become less active. Increasing PA, addressing pain, and treating asthma before surgery might have a positive effect on postoperative PA.

Comparison of two objective monitors for assessing physical activity and sedentary behaviors in bariatric surgery patients

BACKGROUND

Objective quantification of physical activity (PA) is needed to understand PA and sedentary behaviors in bariatric surgery patients, yet it is unclear whether PA estimates produced by different monitors are comparable and can be interpreted similarly across studies.

METHODS

We compared PA estimates from the Stayhealthy RT3 triaxial accelerometer (RT3) and the Sensewear Pro(2) Armband (SWA) at both the group and individual participant level. Bariatric surgery candidates were instructed to wear the RT3 and SWA during waking hours for 7 days. Participants meeting valid wear time requirements (≥4 days of ≥8 h/day) for both monitors were included in the analyses. Time spent in sedentary (<1.5 METs), light (1.5-2.9 METs), moderate-to-vigorous (MVPA; ≥3.0 METs), and total PA (TPA; ≥1.5 METs) according to each monitor was compared.

RESULTS

Fifty-five participants (BMI 48.4 ± 8.2 kg/m(2)) met wear time requirements. Daily time spent in sedentary (RT3 582.9 ± 94.3; SWA 602.3 ± 128.6 min), light (RT3 131.9 ± 60.0; SWA 120.6 ± 65.7 min), MVPA (RT3 25.9 ± 20.9; SWA 29.9 ± 19.5 min), and TPA (RT3 157.8 ± 74.5; SWA 150.6 ± 80.7 min) was similar between monitors (p > 0.05). While the average difference in TPA between the two monitors at the group level was 7.2 ± 64.2 min; the average difference between the two monitors for each participant was 45.6 ± 45.4 min. At the group level, the RT3 and SWA provide similar estimates of PA and sedentary behaviors; however, concordance between monitors may be compromised at the individual level.

CONCLUSIONS

Findings related to PA and sedentary behaviors at the group level can be interpreted similarly across studies when either monitor is used.

[Obesity surgery and its adverse effects]

Bariatric surgery (gastric banding, gastric bypass, sleeve gastrectomy, bilio-pancreatic diversion) is the most efficient long-term treatment concerning weight loss, comorbidities and quality of life improvement, and mortality reduction for massive obesity and complicated obesity. These benefits need to be compared to immediate and late adverse events. The adverse events involve operative risk, surgical, nutritional, and sometimes psychological events. This review describes the various surgical techniques and their complications. Then, it discusses the modalities to prepare, follow-up and take care of these surgical patients to improve the results and avoid the complications.

Advantages of bariatric medicine for individualized prevention and treatments: multidisciplinary approach in body culture and prevention of obesity and diabetes

Bariatric surgery is a component of the multimodal treatment of obesity, which consists of multidisciplinary evaluation and diagnosis, conservative and surgical treatments, and lifelong follow-up care. The current guideline extends the BMI-based spectrum of indications that was previously proposed (BMI greater than 40 kg/m(2), or greater than 35 kg/m(2) with secondary diseases) by eliminating age limits, as well as most of the contraindications. A prerequisite for surgery is that a structured, conservative weight-loss program has failed or is considered to be futile. Type 2 diabetes is now considered an independent indication under clinical study conditions for patients whose BMI is less than 35 kg/m(2) (metabolic surgery). The standard laparoscopic techniques are gastric banding, gastric bypass, sleeve gastrectomy, and biliopancreatic diversion. The choice of procedures is based on knowledge of the results, long-term effects, complications, and individual circumstances. Structured lifelong follow-up should be provided and should, in particular, prevent metabolic deficiencies.