Many people turn to weight loss surgery to improve their obesity and set on a path for better overall health. This is often not their first attempt to obtain a healthy weight and usually comes after trying out several diets and exercise plans. Weight loss surgery can provide a dramatic decrease in weight and improve overall health. Studies show that weight loss results are enhanced when exercise is utilized.
Relationship to Success and Exercise
A study shows that individuals that do not participate in exercise after surgery do not have the same rate of health improvement or overall improvement as those that do exercise. Many individuals are shown to improve their risk of diabetes as well as improve the health of their hearts with exercise after weight loss surgery. Paul M. Coen from the Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism for the Department of Medicine at the University of Pittsburgh believes that the relationship between exercise and a boost in health for patients after surgery is clear.
The Study
In the study by the University of Pittsburgh, 128 adults comprised primarily of women having undergone Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery were divided into two groups. One group received education only and one group required the individuals to participate in an exercise program that was somewhat supervised as well as received an education. The individuals that received education only attended six sessions each month filled with discussions, lectures and demonstrations regarding nutrition, stretching, and medications. The second group combined these education sessions with two hours of moderate exercise, primarily walking over the six-month study.
Results
Both groups started out with similar insulin and glucose measurements. Both groups had an improvement in insulin tolerance levels after the weight loss surgery. The most improvement in levels came from those with exercise included. In addition, the glucose uptake and metabolism, as well as measures of cardiorespiratory fitness, improved more dramatically in those that had incorporated exercise into their routine. These are vital indicators of metabolic health and improvement in this is likely to translate into lower risk of cardiometabolic disease.
After 24 weeks of the study, approximately 30 percent of the individuals added exercise to their routine were more fit than those that did not. This combined with insulin improvement meant that the individuals would be less likely to suffer heart disease, diabetes, and metabolic illnesses that could come from insulin resistance. Insulin sensitivity is essential to the body’s ability to handle sugar and foods.
Recommendations
In most cases, the individuals involved in the studies did not regularly exercise prior to the study. It is recommended by the Obesity Society that individuals take on at least 30 minutes of some form of exercise each day to improve the results of the weight-loss surgeries. This might include walking, swimming, or bicycling. This is especially true if the individual wants to make improvements in diabetic risks or metabolic illnesses.
It is recommended that individuals undergoing weight loss surgery take care to learn all that they can about proper nutrition, their medications, and exercise. Individuals seem to get faster and stronger results when combining exercise with weight loss surgery. It also helps to reduce the risk of diabetes as well as metabolism illnesses if exercise is introduced after the surgery. This should be done with the guidance of a physician or the surgeon and care should be taken regarding the type of exercise being taken on.
While weight loss surgery can help the individual to dramatically reduce their weight, improving overall health, and reducing the risk of weight regain after the surgery is best accomplished with the help of a solid exercise plan of some nature combined with proper nutrition.
Resources:
Obesity Society
University of Pittsburgh