Impact of Exercise on Body Composition and Cardiometabolic Risk Factors in Patients Awaiting Bariatric Surgery

Abstract

Background: The role of exercise to achieve weight reductions in patients awaiting bariatric surgery has been little studied. The aim of this study was to describe the effects of an exercise program on body composition and cardiometabolic risk factors in patients awaiting bariatric surgery. Methods: Twenty-three patients awaiting bariatric surgery were divided into two groups: (a) an exercise group (EG, n = 12) and (b) a control group (CG, n = 11). Both groups received the usual care prior to surgery, but the EG also performed a 12-week exercise program which combined endurance and resistance training. Body composition, cardiometabolic risk factors, physical fitness, basal metabolic rate, and quality of life were assessed at baseline and at the end of the study. Results: After the exercise program, the EG achieved significant reductions in total weight (- 7.3 ± 4.1 kg, P < 0.01), fat mass (- 7.1 ± 4.7 kg, P < 0.01), and waist circumference (- 5.3 ± 2.1 cm, P < 0.01), while they maintained their fat-free mass and basal metabolic rate levels. Only the EG showed reductions in HbA1c (- 0.4 ± 0.45%, P < 0.05), systolic (- 10.5 ± 12.7 mmHg), and diastolic blood pressure (- 3.9 ± 5.2 mmHg, P < 0.05), as well as a decrease in waist-to-height ratio (- 0.032 ± 0.12, P < 0.01) and an improvement in quality of life. Conclusions: The implementation of an exercise program prior to bariatric surgery reduces fat mass and central obesity and improves cardiometabolic risk factors and quality of life, especially in the physical scales.