Effect of exercise training before and after bariatric surgery: A systematic review and meta‐analysis

Summary We aimed to assess the effectiveness of exercise training programs in adults with severe obesity undergoing bariatric surgery. A systematic search of controlled trials published up to October 2019 that assigned participants to either a preoperative or postoperative exercise training group or a nonexercise group was performed. Meta‐analyses were conducted using random‐effects models. Twenty‐two training programs were assessed (18 performed after bariatric surgery). The effect of preoperative exercise training on postsurgery outcomes was reported in only one study. Compared with the control condition without exercise, postoperative exercise training led to higher weight loss (N = 14, mean difference [95% CI] = −1.8 [−3.2; −0.4] kg, P = 0.01), fat loss (N = 9, P = 0.01), increase in VO2max (N = 8, P