According to a new study from the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health and Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, weight loss surgery patients can improve their results if they have physical activity counselling before and after the procedure itself.
Although weight-loss surgery is a safe and effective method for reducing body weight, satisfying long-term results can only be achieved with a combination of increased physical activity and reasonable nutrition. The study, published in the journal Exercise and Sports Sciences Reviews, found that patients are not likely to take up sports on their own. That is why, to ensure they increase their physical activity and to maintain the weight loss after the surgery, patients need to be helped and motivated by professionals.
Wendy King, epidemiologist at Pitt Public Health and lead author of the study, said that without assistance most bariatric surgery patients fail to meet the recommended exercise targets and over time tend to become inactive, even though their weight loss has significantly increased their mobility.
For their study, researchers used activity monitors that record the movement and the intensity of physical activity in respondents. They found that those who received advice managed to increase their physical activity and sustained their weight loss for longer. However, according to the study, less than a quarter of all bariatric surgery patients receive professional counselling in relation to their exercise levels.
Previous research has discovered that even a moderate increase in physical activity before a weight loss procedure can reduce the risk of complications and improve recovery after the surgery.
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