Impact of nutritional-behavioral and supervised exercise intervention following bariatric surgery: The BARI-LIFESTYLE randomized controlled trial

ObjectiveThe study's aim was to investigate the impact of a 12-month adjunctive lifestyle intervention on weight loss and health outcomes after bariatric surgery. MethodsA total of 153 participants (78.4% females; mean [SD], age 44.2 [10.6] years; BMI 42.4 [5.7] kg/m(2)) were randomized to intervention (n = 79) and control (n = 74). The BARI-LIFESTYLE program combined 17 nutritional-behavioral tele-counseling sessions plus once-weekly supervised exercise for 12 weeks. The primary outcome was percentage weight loss at 6 months post surgery. Secondary outcomes included body composition, physical activity levels, physical function and strength, health-related quality of life, depressive symptomatology, and comorbidities. ResultsLongitudinal analysis of the entire cohort showed significant reductions in body weight, fat mass, fat-free mass, and bone mineral density at the total hip, femoral neck, and lumbar spine (all p < 0.001). The 6-minute walk test, sit-to-stand test, health-related quality of life, and depressive symptomatology improved significantly (all p < 0.001). The time spent in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity and sedentary behavior remained the same as before surgery (both p > 0.05). There was no significant difference in the primary outcome between the intervention versus control (20.4% vs. 21.2%; mean difference = -0.8%; 95% CI: -2.8 to 1.1; p > 0.05) and no between-group differences in secondary outcomes. ConclusionsAn adjunctive lifestyle program implemented immediately after surgery had no favorable impact upon weight loss and health outcomes.

Automated summary

The aim of the study was to investigate the impact of a 12-month adjunctive lifestyle intervention on weight loss and health outcomes after bariatric surgery. Results showed significant reductions in body weight, fat mass, and improvements in health-related quality of life and depressive symptomatology. However, the adjunctive lifestyle program implemented immediately after surgery had no favorable impact upon weight loss and health outcomes.