Physical Activity and Sedentary Behavior in Bariatric Patients Long-Term Post-Surgery

• DOI: 10.1007/s11695-015-1624-8
• Publication Date: 2015-02-21T08:47:12Z
• Authors: Ryan E. R. Reid; Tamara E. Carver; Kathleen M. Andersen; Olivier Court; Ross E. Andersen
• Keywords: Sedentary Behavior; Obesity Surgery

To measure sedentary behaviors and physical activity using accelerometry in participants who have undergone bariatric surgery 8.87 ± 3.78 years earlier and to compare these results with established guidelines.Participants' weight and height were measured, an ActivPAL™3 accelerometer and sleeping journal were used to determine day sedentary time, transitions from sitting to standing, as well as steps/day, and participants were asked to indicate if they felt that they were currently less, the same, or more active than before surgery.Participants averaged 48 ± 15 transitions/day, 6375 ± 2690 steps/day, and 9.7 ± 2.3 h/day in sedentary positions. There was a negative correlation between steps/day and sedentary time (r = -.466, p ≤ .001), 11.27 % of participants achieved 10,000 steps/day. Participants who reported being more active prior to surgery averaged 6323.4 ± 2634.79 steps/day, which was not different from the other two groups of self-perceived change in level of physical activity (F (2, 68) = .941, p ≤ .05) from pre- to post-surgery.Participants were inadequately active and overly sedentary compared to established guidelines and norms. Healthcare workers should be taking physical activity and sedentary time into account when creating post-surgical guidelines for this population to ensure the best long-term weight loss maintenance and health outcomes.