Concurrent Exercise Effects in Post-Bariatric Patients

Summary

This study aims to evaluate the effect of a 5-week concurrent exercise program (aerobic and resistance training) on muscle quality, body composition, functional response, and quality of life in individuals undergoing bariatric surgery.

This is a single-center, prospective, longitudinal, non-randomized controlled clinical trial with two groups: intervention and control. A total of 84 adults aged 18 to 60 years who have undergone sleeve gastrectomy or gastric bypass and have a medical indication for metabolic rehabilitation will be recruited.

The intervention group will complete a supervised concurrent exercise program for 5 weeks, consisting of two in-person sessions per week (10 sessions in total), while the control group will continue with usual care without participating in a structured exercise program. All participants will be assessed at two time points: baseline (postoperative week 4) and 7 weeks after baseline (after 5 weeks of intervention and 1 week of rest).

The primary outcome will be muscle quality of the rectus femoris assessed by ultrasound (echo intensity). Secondary outcomes will include body composition (bioelectrical impedance analysis), functional performance (one-minute sit-to-stand test), and quality of life (Moorehead-Ardelt II questionnaire).

Additionally, adherence to the exercise program in the intervention group will be evaluated as the percentage of attendance to supervised sessions, and its association with the magnitude of changes in outcomes will be analyzed under a dose-response framework.

The results are expected to provide clinically relevant evidence on the effectiveness of exercise in the early postoperative period and to support the optimization of metabolic rehabilitation strategies after bariatric surgery.

Conditions

• Obesity & Overweight
• Post-bariatric Surgery

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

Concurrent Exercise Program

Concurrent physical exercise program of 5 weeks combining aerobic and resistance training in individuals undergoing bariatric surgery. The program includes two supervised in-person sessions per week (10 sessions total), each lasting approximately 60 minutes, and one recommended weekly home-based session guided by a prescribed exercise plan. Aerobic exercise is performed at moderate to high intensity, monitored using the Borg Rating of Perceived Exertion scale. Resistance training targets major muscle groups and is prescribed based on an estimated one-repetition maximum (1RM), with progression in volume and intensity according to individual tolerance and safety criteria. The program begins at postoperative week 4. After completing the 5-week intervention, participants undergo a 1-week period without supervised sessions before the post-intervention assessment.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Clinica Bupa Santiago

  collaborator OTHER

• Universidad Autónoma de Chile

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• María José Pabst Pérez, MSc · Universidad Autónoma de Chile

• Tomás Vergara Soria, Kinesiólogo · Clínica BUPA Santiago

• Sebastian Barrios Valenzuela, Kinesiólogo · Clínica BUPA Santiago

• Luis Astete, MSc · Universidad Autónoma de Chile

• Nicolas Arancibia Ramirez, Kinesiólogo · Clinica Alemana

• Erika Troncoso, MsC · Clinica las Condes

• Rosario Alonso Domínguez, PhD. · Universidad de Salamanca. España

• María de la Luz Tocino, PhD. · University of Salamanca

• Matias Otto Yañez, PhD. · Universidad Autónoma de Chile. Chile

• Paloma Lillo, MsC · Universidad Silva Henriquez

• Carla Martinez Dominguez, Kinesióloga · Clinica Bupa Santiago

Study Design

Allocation

NON_RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

NONE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Max Age

60 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2025-08-11

Primary Completion

2027-12-31

Completion

2028-12-31

Countries

• Chile

Study Locations