Influence of body composition on exercise capacity in women after bariatric surgery

Introduction: Bariatric surgery is an effective alternative for weight loss, and that seems to solve or mitigate significantly the physical limitations caused by obesity. Objective: To evaluate the influence of body composition on exercise capacity in women after bariatric surgery. Methods: It was evaluated 25 women (age= 43.05 ± 9.62 years) underwent bariatric surgery with minimum 6 months and maximum of 2 years postoperatively to compose the group I (GI). It was also evaluated 10 women (age= 39.10 ± 9.80 years) nonobese (BMI 18 to 24.9 kg/m2) and sedentary to compose the control group (GII). Body composition was assessed by bioelectrical impedance and exercise capacity by the six-minute walk test (6MWT). Statistical analysis was performed using parametric and nonparametric tests, depending on the distribution of variables, considering a significance level of 5%. Results: After bariatric surgery, 17 patients of GI were still obese. So, for better analysis of the results, the GI (n= 25) was divided into 2 others groups: obese (GIA =17) and nonobese (GIB= 8). The GIA had higher body fat percentage (40.79% ± 4.79; 30.93% ± 6.72; 30.10 ± 4.30%), lower muscle mass (56.21 ± 4.55%; 66.04% ± 5.94; 65.89 ± 4.80%) and lower 6MWT distance (6MWD) (434.00 ± 69.02 m; 513.37 ± 72.96 m; 565.50 ± 112.10 m) when compared to GIB and GII, respectively. The results of body composition and 6MWD were similar between GIB and GII. Conclusion: The results indicate that women undergoing bariatric surgery, but still remain obese have a higher percentage of body fat, less muscle mass and shorter distance in the 6MWT, compared to non-obese patients, whether operated or not.