# Functional mobility and pain are improved for 6 years after adolescent bariatric surgery

## TL;DR

Adolescents who had bariatric surgery showed lasting improvements in mobility and reduced pain for up to six years, even with some weight regain.

## Contribution

This study provides long-term evidence of mobility and pain improvements after adolescent bariatric surgery.

## Key findings

- Walk time improved significantly from 383 seconds pre-surgery to 351 seconds at six years.
- The risk of musculoskeletal pain dropped from 37.2% to 11.0% over six years.
- Improvements in heart rate and pain occurred through both weight-dependent and weight-independent mechanisms.

## Abstract

The long‐term durability of improvements in functional mobility and musculoskeletal pain for adolescents after metabolic and bariatric surgery (MBS) is unknown.

We used the Teen‐Longitudinal Assessment of Bariatric Surgery (Teen‐LABS) study to determine the change in mobility and pain among adolescents who underwent MBS. From standardized 400‐m walk tests, we analyzed walk time, heart rate (HR) parameters, and musculoskeletal pain.

The mean walk time improved from 383 s (95% CI: 368–399) prior to surgery to 351 s (95% CI: 330–372) by 6 years. The mean resting HR was 90 beats per minute (bpm; 95% CI: 87–93) preoperatively and decreased to 80 bpm (95% CI: 76–84) by 6 years. The risk of any musculoskeletal pain decreased from 37.2% (95% CI: 25.5%–48.9%) to 11.0% (95% CI: 4.3%–17.6%) by 6 years. Mediation analysis revealed that the effect of time since surgery on walk time, resting HR, and HR recovery occurred through a weight‐dependent mechanism. For posttest HR and HR difference, there was both a significant weight‐dependent and weight‐independent mechanism. The effect of surgery on the risk of musculoskeletal pain occurred through a weight‐independent mechanism.

Adolescents who underwent MBS experienced significant, durable improvement in mobility and pain, despite weight regain. Our models suggest that improvements may occur through a weight‐independent mechanism.