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A randomized trial comparing two interventions to increase physical activity among patients undergoing bariatric
David B Creel1, Leslie M Schuh1, Christina A Reed1
1St. Vincent Bariatric Center of Excellence, Carmel, Indiana, USA.
Obesity (Silver Spring, Md.)
|July 2, 2016
Summary
Physical activity interventions, including exercise counseling with pedometers, significantly increased daily steps and exercise duration after bariatric surgery. However, pedometers alone showed limited benefits compared to standard care.
Area of Science:
- Bariatric Surgery
- Exercise Physiology
- Behavioral Medicine
Background:
- Bariatric surgery leads to significant weight loss and improved exercise tolerance.
- The role of physical activity interventions in enhancing post-bariatric surgery outcomes requires further investigation.
- Optimizing physical activity levels is crucial for long-term health after bariatric procedures.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the effectiveness of two physical activity interventions (pedometer use and exercise counseling with pedometer) compared to standard care.
- To assess the impact of these interventions on physical activity levels and exercise tolerance before and up to 6.5 months after bariatric surgery.
Main Methods:
- Participants were randomized into three groups: standard care, pedometer use, or exercise counseling plus pedometer.
- Physical activity was monitored using accelerometers for two weeks pre-surgery and at 2, 4, and 6 months post-surgery.
- Exercise tolerance was assessed via submaximal treadmill testing.
Main Results:
- The exercise counseling plus pedometer group demonstrated significantly higher daily steps and weekly exercise duration compared to standard care and pedometer-only groups.
- All groups showed significant improvements in exercise tolerance, with no statistically significant differences between groups.
- No significant changes in sedentary or light activity levels were observed across any group.
Conclusions:
- Exercise counseling combined with pedometer use effectively increases physical activity in the perioperative period and up to 6.5 months post-bariatric surgery.
- Providing pedometers without professional feedback may not offer additional benefits over standard bariatric surgery care.
- Rapid weight loss post-surgery may enhance exercise tolerance, potentially masking the specific fitness gains from modest physical activity interventions in the initial six months.
