Physical Activity Before Obesity Surgery

There are limited knowledge about the impact of increased pre-operative physical training on postoperative physical activity levels as well as on recovery and complication rates after bariatric surgery.

The primary aim of this study is to investigate whether an intervention including individual coaching to improve level of physical activity before and after gastric bypass surgery leads to a changed of level physical activity post-operatively at eight weeks, one and two years.

Secondary aims of the study are to investigate whether increased physical activity has effects on complication rates, re-admissions and re-operations, post-operative weight-loss, gastrointestinal pain, recovery measured as hospital stay, sick-leave and QoL, resumption of normal physical activity.

METHODS 300 patients will be recruited and randomized to an intervention group or control group. The patients in the intervention group will receive individual coaching by a physical therapist to:

• increase physical activity 30 minutes/day (At least 150 min/week)
• decrease time spent sitting/lying The patients in the control group will receive standard care.

Before surgery, 6 weeks, and one year after surgery patient will fill in a questionnaire including level of physical activity, sick leave, quality of life and gastrointestinal pain. In addition blood test will be taken and complication rates recorded.