Health-Related Fitness Improvements in Morbid Obese Patients After Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy: a Cohort Study.

Abstract

Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) has demonstrated high long-term effectiveness and major advantages over other techniques. The objective of this study was to analyze changes in physical fitness parameters in morbidly obese patients during 6months after LSG. We conducted a descriptive observational study with 6-month follow-up in 72 LSG patients, evaluating changes in body mass index (BMI), functional capacity (6-min walking test), hand grip strength (manual dynamometry), flexibility (fingertip-to-floor test), balance (Flamingo test), physical activity level (International Physical Activity Questionnaire, IPAQ), and perception of general physical fitness (International Fitness Scale [IFIS] questionnaire). The ANOVA revealed significant improvements in BMI, functional capacity, flexibility, balance, and physical activity level (P<0.001) at 6months, with an improvement in the perception of physical fitness in most cases. No significant changes were found in dominant hand (P=0.676) or non-dominant hand (P=0.222) dynamometry. General physical fitness was positively correlated with BMI and distance in the 6-min test, and was negatively correlated with fingertip-to-floor distance. Morbidly obese patients showed major improvements at 6months after LSG in functional capacity, balance, mobility, and physical activity, with no change in grip strength. These improvements were related to a better self-perception of general physical fitness.