Pulmonary function and energy expenditure after marked weight loss in obese women: observations before and one year after gastric banding.

Pulmonary function and pulmonary gas exchange at rest, and during and after a standart exercise load of 500 kpm in 1 min on bicycle ergometer were studied in 34 women with severe, uncomplicated obesity, aged 37.8 years, before and 1 year after gastric banding, resulting in a weight loss from 113.2 to 81.7 Kg. The results show that the loss of weight led to increased filling of the lungs, improved dynamic function, reduced ventilation/perfusion disturbances and greater than expected reduction of energy expendure, both at rest and exercise.