Vigorous Exercise after Weight Loss Surgery

Posted: Aug 24 in Weight Loss Blog by Staff

In order to lose weight following bariatric surgery it is important to begin exercising regularly as soon as you are able. While light exercise is best as your body is healing, once you are fully recovered from your weight loss surgery vigorous exercise may be an attainable goal. According to study findings published in Obesity, vigorous exercise may be attainable in order to maintain weight after weight loss surgery. The study found that bariatric surgery patients can perform large volumes of exercise that enable them to improve their physical fitness.

The study examined 33 obese patients who underwent gastric bypass Roux-en-Y and gastric banding bariatric surgery by a weight loss surgeon. The patients had an average body mass index (BMI) of 41. The study group was divided into a group of participants who performed in a high-volume exercise program (HVEP) and a control group who did not. The HVEP group participated in moderately-intense exercise resulting in expending of energy of a minimum of 2,000 calories per week.

The study participants were monitored and evaluated for 12 weeks. The findings revealed that people in the exercise group had a marked improvement in their step count at 12 weeks. Participants in the HVEP group saw an increase in their daily set count during the 12 weeks, from 4,500 to almost 10,000. At the end of the study period, over 50 percent of the participants could burn 2,000 calories per week via exercise, while 82 percent were able to burn 1,500 calories per week.

The study isn’t without limitations however. Short sample size, short study duration, higher control group dropout rate, and group dietary and exercise counseling (versus individual counseling) are all limitations of the study. That said, while this study offers positive encouragement for Cape Coral weight loss surgery patients, long-term studies still need to be conducted to evaluate the relationship between a HVEP and improvements in comorbidities and weight loss maintenance.