Effects of a High-Intensity Exercise Program on Weight Regain and Cardio-metabolic Profile after 3 Years of Bariatric Surgery: A Randomized Trial

Abstract

Weight regain is one of the most common problems in the long-term after bariatric surgery. It is unknown if high-intensity exercise programs applied in late phases of post-surgical follow-up could counteract this trend. After a 3-year follow-up, 21 patients underwent sleeve gastrectomy were randomized into an exercise group (EG, n = 11), that performed a 5-month supervised exercise program, and a control group (CG, n = 10), that followed the usual care. Body composition, cardiorespiratory fitness, glycaemia and blood cholesterol were evaluated before and after the intervention. Finally, the EG repeated the evaluations 2 months after the end of the exercise program. Both groups reached their maximum weight loss at the first year after surgery and showed significant weight regain by the end of the follow-up. After the exercise program, the EG showed reductions in fat mass (−2.5 ± 2.6 kg, P < 0.05), glycaemia (−13.4 ± 8.7 mg•dL −1, P < 0.01) and blood cholesterol (−24.6 ± 29.1 mg•dL −1 , P < 0.05), whereas the CG during the same period showed increases in weight (1.5 ± 1.3 kg, P < 0.05) and fat mass (1.8 ± 0.9, P < 0.01). Two months after the end of the program, EG had increases in weight (1.1 ± 1.2 kg, P < 0.05), fat mass (2.6 ± 2.2 kg, P < 0.01), glycaemia (8.2 ± 11.6 mg•dL −1 , P < 0.05) and blood cholesterol (20.0 ± 22.1 mg•dL −1 , P < 0.05), when compared with the values after the exercise program. Therefore, in the medium-term after sleeve gastrectomy exercise may contribute to prevent weight regain and to reduce fat mass, glycaemia, and blood cholesterol.

Impact of COVID-19 Lockdown on Short-Term Results After Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy

“…However, it must be taken into account that weight loss is more evident during the first year after the intervention, which increases motivation and establishes healthy lifestyle habits in many patients. One of these pillars is physical activity [ 7 ], especially important in subjects who have received a restrictive technique such as SG [ 8 ].…”

Influence of the lockdown due to COVID-19 on weight-loss results during the first year after sleeve gastrectomy

“…One of these pillars is physical activity, 9 which is especially important in subjects who have undergone a restrictive technique like SG, and a physical training program has been shown to prevent weight regain in the medium term, reducing body fat, glycemia and cholesterol. 10 …”

Influencia del confinamiento por COVID-19 en los resultados ponderales durante el primer año tras la gastrectomía vertical

“…Sin embargo, hay que tener en cuenta que la pérdida ponderal es más evidente durante el primer año tras la intervención, lo que incrementa la motivación y asienta en muchos pacientes hábitos de vida saludables. Uno de esos pilares es la actividad física 9 , especialmente importante en sujetos que han recibido una técnica restrictiva, como la GV, habiéndose demostrado que un programa de entrenamiento consigue prevenir la reganancia a medio plazo, disminuyendo la grasa corporal, la glucemia y el colesterol en sangre 10 .…”