Research

Adherence

Post-bariatric exercise training significantly improves physical function, measured by the 6-minute walk test (6MWD), adding approximately 29.67 meters compared to surgery alone.

If you have had bariatric surgery, adding exercise to your routine will help you improve your physical function and mobility compared to relying on surgery and diet alone. For the best results, wait at least one year after surgery to start a structured exercise program, and combine aerobic activities (like walking or cycling) with resistance training (weight lifting). Aim for 1.3 to 4 hours of exercise per week, spread over 2-3 sessions.

LimitedSupportsHIGH confidence
Meta-analysis based on two RCTs showed a significant increase in 6 min walk distance (6MWD) after the exercise intervention (6MWD; WMD 29.67 m; 95% CI 25.97 to 33.37; p<0.00001)
Ziqi Ren et al. · BMJ Open · 2018

Why this rating

High quality evidence for this specific outcome based on 2 RCTs with good homogeneity (I2=0%).

Source

Effect of physical exercise on weight loss and physical function following bariatric surgery: a meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials

Ziqi Ren et al. · BMJ Open · 2018

DOI 10.1136/bmjopen-2018-023208

Meta-analysis · 8 studiesCited 54×
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DOI resolved against Crossref · corpus check 2026-06-10

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