Effects of pre-existing co-morbidities in variable lifestyle modification programs on weight loss

• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/2047/d10018475

Introduction: Bariatric surgery patients with pre existing co morbid conditions such as diabetes and hypertension are at increased cardiovascular risk. The relationship of exercise in promoting a more healthy body composition with bariatric surgery is not clearly defined. Subjects: Bariatric surgery patients (n=223) at Tufts Medical Center in Boston, MA. were followed for changes in absolute and relative body weight over two years. Patients were stratified by surgical procedure, prevalence of baseline diabetes or hypertension, and participation in an exercise program or no exercise program at three semi-annual visits. Results: Surgical groups were significantly different in absolute and relative body weight at baseline and over the two year follow up. There were no significant differences in body weight at baseline between the co morbidity groups or over the two year follow up. The exercise group was significantly different from non exercise group at the last follow up (18-24 months) for absolute body weight. Only seven participants qualified for fitness assessments of which these patients increased in estimated MET capacity without any significant relationship to change in body weight over the follow up period. Conclusions: While surgical groups displayed significant differences in body weight across the two years there were no significant differences between the baseline co morbidity groups and differences only at 18-24 months between the exercise and non exercise groups. Participation in exercise programming possibly increased lean body mass for a corresponding increase in body weight possibly responsible for the increase in estimated MET capacity.