# The effect of 6 months of structured strength or endurance exercise program on weight loss after gastric bypass surgery in a randomized controlled trial

## TL;DR

This study found that adding exercise after gastric bypass surgery helps with weight and fat loss but doesn't improve blood sugar or inflammation.

## Contribution

The study compares structured strength and endurance training effects post-gastric bypass, revealing their impact on weight and fat loss.

## Key findings

- Exercise led to 2.5 kg more weight loss in the intervention group compared to the control group.
- Fat mass decreased by 3.0 kg in the intervention group, but no difference in fat-free mass.
- No significant changes in glucose, lipid metabolism, or inflammation were observed between groups.

## Abstract

To examine the effects of differently structured exercise programs (strength training (ST) vs endurance training (ET) vs a control group (CG)) on glucose metabolism and weight loss following Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass (RYGB).

After RYGB, patients were randomized to a standardized ST or ET program or a control group, the intervention started within 28 days. Outcomes at 6 months were glucose and lipid metabolism, anthropometrics, inflammation, and quality of life.

93 patients were randomized (30 in ST and 31 in ET, 32 in CG; 28% with type 2 diabetes mellitus, 8.5% insulin-dependent). Total weight was − 2.5 kg (95% CI − 4.7 to − 0.4, p = 0.023) lower in pooled intervention group (PIG) and fat mass according to bioelectrical impedance analysis was − 3.0 kg (95% CI − 5.0 to − 1.0, p = 0.0037) lower in the PIG. Fat-free mass decreased by − 4.2 kg with no difference between the groups. The primary endpoint, glucose concentration after a 2 h oral glucose tolerance test, did not differ between the PIG and the CG, − 0.29 mmol/L (95% CI − 1.22 to 0.63, p = 0.54). Similarly, we did not detect any differences in lipid metabolism, inflammation, and quality of life between the groups.

In our study, we found that an additional exercise training 6 months postoperatvely- independent of the type of training- resulted in greater weight loss and loss of fat mass. However, it had no effect on glucose/lipid parameters or inflammation beyond the surgery itself.