Introduction

Morbid obesity is a major contributor to a wide variety of disease states including diabetes mellitus, coronary artery disease, and sleep apnea. Obesity, generally defined as a body mass index (BMI) greater than 30 kg/m2, increases the risk of all-cause death [1]. Due to the high prevalence of overweight (BMI between 25 and 30 kg/m2) and obesity, interventions such as diet and exercise to promote weight loss have become increasingly important to reduce morbidity in the general population. The benefits of exercise include increasing energy expenditure and lean body mass while contributing to fat loss, reducing obesity-related complications, and improving self-esteem and depression [2]. Exercise also improves cardiopulmonary fitness, which may reduce mortality from cardiovascular disease [3].

The literature varies on the magnitude of weight loss that can be achieved by exercise and the level of activity necessary to achieve it. A negative energy balance of 500 calories per day results in 1 pound of weight loss per week [4]. To achieve this with exercise requires the equivalent of 1 h/day of aerobic exercise. Walking is one of the easiest and safest ways to establish an exercise program for overweight patients, with 70,000 to 100,000 steps per week necessary to help weight loss. Over a 12-week period, studies have found that overweight patients lose 2.5% to 8% of their body weight through exercise alone [5, 6]. Long-term maintenance of physical activity (contributing to energy expenditure of 1,500 to 2,000 kilocalories (kcal) per week) has been found to decrease weight gain [7]. The NHLBI Obesity Education Initiative Expert and the US Preventive Services Task Force developed guidelines establishing the amount of physical activity necessary to promote weight loss and reduce comorbidities. They generally consist of at least 30 min of aerobic activity daily, amounting to an energy expenditure of 2,500 to 3,500 kcal per week [8].

Exercise has been postulated to improve weight loss after bariatric surgery. However, even moderate physical activity is often difficult for morbidly obese patients due to comorbidities such as osteoarthritis and asthma. Patients who have undergone bariatric surgery are forced to make dietary changes due to the restrictive and/or malabsorptive changes of the operation. The role of physical activity in contributing to weight loss is less clear, as patients are already forced to significantly decrease their caloric intake. Recommendations regarding physical activity are more difficult to enforce. It is critical to evaluate whether exercise improves weight loss outcomes to determine if this modality should be mandated as part of the standard postoperative guidelines.

This systematic review analyzes the evidence regarding physical activity following bariatric surgery. The main outcome of interest is postoperative weight loss, but additional information regarding the instruments used to measure exercise and the definition of physical activity is also assessed.

Materials and Methods

Identification and Selection of Studies

This study is part of a larger systematic review examining patient factors related to postoperative weight loss after bariatric surgery. Relevant studies evaluating exercise were identified by searching MEDLINE (1/1/1988 to 3/4/2009) under the search words ((“Bariatric Surgery”[Mesh/NoExp] OR “weight loss surgery” OR “obesity surgery” OR “weight reduction surgery” OR “Biliopancreatic Diversion”[Mesh] OR “Duodenal switch”OR "laparoscopic band" OR “lap band” OR “gastric band” OR “Gastric Bypass”[Mesh] OR “Gastroplasty”[Mesh] OR “gastric sleeve” OR “sleeve gastrectomy”) AND “Obesity”[Mesh]) AND (“Physical Therapy Modalities”[Mesh] OR “Physical Therapy (Specialty)”[Mesh] OR “Exercise Movement Techniques”[Mesh] OR “Complementary Therapies”[Mesh] OR “physiotherapy” OR “physio therapy” OR “therapeutic exercise” OR “Occupational Therapy”[Mesh] OR “Exercise”[Mesh] OR “Exercise therapy”[Mesh]). We manually mined reference lists of the retrieved studies to identify additional relevant publications.

The full text of the articles was evaluated with a standardized article screener by two of the researchers. The selection criteria included studies published in English with patients over the age of 18 years (studies with patients both over and under 18 years old were accepted) who underwent bariatric surgery (open or laparoscopic gastric bypass, laparoscopic gastric banding, biliopancreatic diversion, vertical-banded gastroplasty, or gastric sleeve; other bariatric procedures or not bariatric surgery were excluded). Accepted study designs included case series/cohort, case control, and randomized control trials; studies with a sample size of less than ten were excluded. Studies that did not report on exercise and postoperative weight loss were excluded.

Data Extraction

Data were abstracted from each study by two physicians. The following relevant information was recorded: study design, type of operation, baseline patient demographics, number of patients and definition of physical activity or exercise, and degree of postoperative weight loss.

Meta-analysis

A meta-analysis was performed to assess the combined association of postoperative exercise on 12-month postoperative weight loss, calculated as percent total BMI loss. Studies were included if they reported 12-month weight loss for patients who exercised versus patients who did not exercise as % BMI change or BMI points lost, resulting in three studies included in the meta-analysis. Patients in the exercise group were defined as meeting a certain threshold of activity, which differed per study. The mean difference method in REVMAN (version 5.0.22) was used [9]. A random effects model was used to calculate mean differences, 95% confidence intervals (CIs), a combined overall association with P value, and the P value for testing heterogeneity (P < 0.1 was considered significant). When the standard deviation (SD) was not available, as was the case for two studies, it was estimated using the mean SD from other studies.

Results

Description of the Selected Studies

The search strategy yielded 164 studies on exercise and weight loss after bariatric surgery, 13 fulfilled the criteria for this review (Fig. 1). Excluded articles did not report on a potential association between exercise and postoperative weight loss. Two studies were from the same research group but had different study designs and patient groups, and so they were considered as separate studies [10, 11]. The 13 studies report on 4,108 patients; mean age ranges from 42 to 46 years, and mean follow-up interval ranges from 12 to 27 months. All studies have patient samples with a majority of female patients except Dixon et al [12], and baseline BMI in the 37 to 58 kg/m2 range (Table 1). The majority of the studies report on either open or laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) or laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB), though Hernandez-Estefania et al. enrolled patients undergoing vertical-banded gastroplasty (VBG) [13] and Metcalf et al. included patients who underwent a duodenal switch (DS) operation [14].

Fig. 1
figure 1

Flow diagram of included and excluded studies for review

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Table 1 Baseline characteristics of studies included in the review
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Dixon et al. is the only randomized control trial, comparing patients randomized to LAGB or conventional therapy (but patients were not randomized with respect to exercise). Both groups received counseling regarding nutrition, physical activity, and if applicable, diabetes management, and the latter group had options for low calorie diets or pharmaceutical agents. All participants were separated into two groups based on amount of weekly exercise. Three of the studies are prospective cohorts, two of which compare a group of active patients versus a group of inactive patients after bariatric surgery [13, 15]. The third looks at physical activity both pre- and postoperatively and separates patients into three groups: inactive pre- and postoperatively, inactive preoperatively and active postoperatively, and active pre- and postoperatively [11].

The remaining eight studies are retrospective cohorts, two compare an exercise versus no exercise group after bariatric surgery [10, 14]. The other studies did not separate patients into exercise groups, but rather report a correlation between postoperative physical activity and degree of weight loss for the entire patient cohort [16–20]. Cook et al. groups patients based on success or failure to lose weight after RYGB, and measures exercise frequency in the two groups [21].

Due to the search strategy, all of the studies have postoperative weight loss as their primary outcome. The length of follow-up varies from 12 to 27 months (mean follow-up 18.9 months). Weight loss is generally reported for the different groups as percentage of excess weight loss (% EWL), though some studies report the actual weight lost in kilograms while others report the change in BMI.

Measurement of Physical Activity

Four of the studies used validated instruments to assess the level of physical activity performed by the participants. This includes the Baecke Physical Activity Questionnaire, which was validated in obese non-surgical patients [22] and also in adult females with hip disorders, including those status post total hip arthroplasty [23]. It has a total of 16 questions classified into three domains: work, sports, and non-sports leisure activity [24]. Each domain has several questions scored on a five-point Likert scale, ranging from never to always or very often, and the time frame included is the past year. Both Colles et al. and Larsen et al. use portions of the Baecke Questionnaire (Table 2). Bond et al. [11] utilizes the International Physical Activity Questionnaire short form to measure physical activity both pre- and postoperatively. This survey has been validated in obese non-surgical patients [25] and in normal adult populations internationally [26]. This self-administered survey assesses walking and moderate or vigorous activities in everyday life, as measured for the past 7 days [26].

Table 2 Description of exercise instruments
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Nine studies only utilize self-developed surveys to assess physical activity. Several define the “active” or “exercise” group as those patients who did some level of activity for at least 30 minutes, at least three times per week (Table 2). Bueter et al. measures the frequency with which patients performed endurance sports (e.g. swimming, running, and cycling), while Bond et al. [10] accepts participation in physical activity if patients reported any aerobic activity at any of their office visits through 2 years after surgery.

Postoperative Weight Loss: Systematic Review

Eleven studies report a beneficial association of exercise on postoperative weight loss (Table 3). Of these, six studies examine weight loss 12 months after bariatric surgery. Bond et al. [11] and Hernandez-Estefania et al. both found a positive correlation between postoperative physical activity and the degree of weight loss at 12 months, as well as a significant difference in weight loss between the active and inactive groups. Chevallier et al. has similar results, with patients who exercised having a 60% lower odds ratio of weight loss failure. Cook et al. comment that 77% of patients with successful weight loss (defined as greater than 74% of weight loss at 1 year) exercised postoperatively. Colles et al. report a correlation between weight loss and different indices of the Baecke Physical Activity Questionnaire, and found that a higher number of barriers to physical activity impede weight loss at 12 months (r = −0.2, P = 0.021). Metcalf et al. is the only study with inconclusive results in this time-frame. There is no difference in weight loss between the exercise and no exercise groups, though there is a decrease in fat mass and an increase in lean body mass in exercisers (P < .05).

Table 3 Association of exercise on postoperative weight loss
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Five studies examine the association of exercise on postoperative weight loss past 1 year. Wolfe et al. found a correlation between exercise and BMI change for all patients at 24 months, though there is no significant difference in BMI change between exercisers versus non-exercisers (P > 0.06). Bond et al. [10] report that active patients lose more weight than those who are sedentary 24 month after surgery. This is consistent when patients are separated into groups according to preoperative BMI (35–49 versus 50–70). Results are similar for Latner et al., with the additional finding that proximity to goal weight correlates with postoperative exercise frequency (r = 0.345, P < 0.02). Bueter et al. report a correlation between exercise and successful weight loss, while a lack of postoperative exercise is a predictor of failure (%EWL < 20 or band removal) (relative risk 4.0, P = 0.045). Larsen et al. is the only study to find no evidence of a beneficial association of physical activity at 24 months after bariatric surgery, despite their use of a validated instrument.

The majority of the studies only include patients undergoing RYGB. The six studies that did not specify whether RYGB was performed laparoscopically or through an open technique all report a positive association between exercise and postoperative weight loss. Of the three studies that specified laparoscopic RYGB, two found a positive association while one did not. The two LAGB studies and the VBG study also found a positive result, while the duodenal switch study was inconclusive. The three prospective cohort studies, which include a mix of bariatric procedures, report a positive association between exercise and weight loss.

Postoperative Weight Loss: Meta-analysis

A meta-analysis of postoperative weight loss at 12 months assessed the association of exercise versus no exercise (Fig. 2). The included studies report postoperative weight loss as percentage of total BMI change. The studies included RYGB, VBG, and DS, respectively. The exercise group overall lost a mean of 4.2% greater total BMI (95% CI (0.3 to 8.1%)). There was no significant heterogeneity (P = 0.34).

Fig. 2
figure 2

Meta-analyses of postoperative weight loss at 12 months for exercise versus no exercise groups. Forest plots of random-effects meta-analyses of % total BMI loss at 12 months, separately for exercise versus no exercise groups

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Discussion

Eleven of the thirteen studies reported that exercise and physical activity correlate with greater postoperative weight loss following bariatric surgery. Meta-analysis suggests 4.2% greater degree of weight loss (total BMI) at 12 months, and greater weight loss persists out to 24 months. There is significant variation in how exercise is defined, with few studies using validated surveys and none that are specific to bariatric surgery patients. Standard guidelines for appropriate amount of exercise for bariatric patients still need to be developed.

There is great variation in how exercise is measured and the minimal threshold to define a physically active patient. Of the two studies that found inconclusive results, Larsen et al. used the Sport Index of the Baecke Questionnaire and report that exercise levels may be too low after gastric bypass to contribute to weight loss. The Sport Index may not be appropriate to measure physical activity in this population. Metcalf et al. found no association between physical activity and EWL but there is a benefit in lean body mass.

The definition of an active patient differs among studies, but four studies require at least 30 minutes of exercise on 3 or more days per week. Three studies require from 20 to 200 minutes per week. However, only Bueter et al. and Hernandez-Estefania et al. specify the type of activity to be endurance sports and walking, respectively, while the remainder do not state a lower limit of what is accepted as exercise.

An appropriate definition of exercise should include the weekly duration as well as the type of activities performed. There are few validated instruments used in the bariatric literature to measure activity levels, and all are based on self-reporting. The two most relevant surveys reported in this review are the Baecke Physical Activity Questionnaire and the International Physical Activity Questionnaire. In a recent review of studies assessing physical activity in cardiac patients, the two most frequently used instruments are the Baecke Questionnaire and the Stanford 7-Day Physical Activity Recall [27]. The latter has measures for sleep and moderate, hard, or very hard physical activity carried out in the past 7 days. Though it is the most commonly used survey in the cardiac population, it has low validity in women and was assessed to be not suitable for cardiac patients. There is no single instrument that is accepted as the gold standard for measuring exercise in bariatric patients. However, the use of a standardized and validated survey would allow for comparing and/or pooling between future studies.

There are no standardized guidelines for how much exercise is appropriate for the postoperative bariatric surgery patient. Some recommendations suggest that daily walking is adequate and pedometers are useful to help track activity [28]. Others recommend a minimum accumulation of weekly activity points (200 to 300 points), based on what activities are performed (e.g. walking, bicycling, housekeeping, or sports) and for what duration [29]. This method roughly correlates with the IPAQ score. Encouraging 30-45 minutes of physical activity of moderate intensity (e.g. walking) for 3 to 5 days per week has also been reported [30]. This is the recommendation that is most commonly given in the studies included in this review. It also closely parallels the American Heart Association / American College of Sports Medicine guidelines on physical activity, which include 30 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity on five days each week or 20 minutes of vigorous-intensity activity for three days each week [31].

Motivating patients to exercise can be difficult, especially in the bariatric population. Counseling that begins preoperatively can help prepare patients for the physical activity that will be recommended after surgery. Instruction to walk, which is low-impact and already done to some degree by the majority of people, may increase compliance. Pedometers are a good motivational tool to encourage patients to fulfill set goals. Finally, barriers to exercise (e.g. health concerns, lack of proximity to a gym or park, feeling self-conscious) should be identified and minimized if possible. Screening patients for low physical activity can help to identify those who may need additional help and need targeted interventions to help them achieve optimal weight loss.

Though most studies report a positive association between physical activity and postoperative weight loss, this does not prove that exercise causes more weight loss after bariatric surgery. Patients who lose more weight may feel better physically and this can lead them to exercise more. A randomized trial or matched cohort would help demonstrate whether a causal relationship exists.

This review has some limitations mainly related to the heterogeneity of the studies. The variations in defining exercise and how it is measured made it difficult to compare the studies. Furthermore, the majority of studies did not report patient follow-up or actual compliance with exercise activities. This limits the validity of their findings and makes it challenging to identify the most successful exercise regiment for this patient population. Degree of weight loss is also reported in different ways, with some studies reporting kilograms or BMI points lost while others include the percentage of excess weight loss. In addition, little data is reported on the association of other patient factors, such as race, gender, or age, on the correlation between exercise and weight loss. The level of physical activity may differ according to baseline patient characteristics, with one study finding that women exercise more than men postoperatively [32]. Targeting certain patients groups may be useful if they are found to benefit more from exercise.

In summary, postoperative exercise is associated with greater weight loss at 12 and 24 months after bariatric surgery. The long-term benefit of exercise in this patient population remains to be shown. Further studies are necessary to determine the appropriate recommendations for the minimum level of physical activity, as well as the best instruments for exercise in the bariatric population.