Effects of rehabilitation after bariatric surgery on lean mass and functional capacity: A narrative review
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.62827/fb.v27i8.1297Keywords:
Exercise Therapy; Body Composition; Physical Fitness; Muscle Strength; Bariatric Surgery.Abstract
Introduction: Rapid weight loss after bariatric surgery improves mobility and metabolic health but includes reductions in lean body mass, fat-free mass, and skeletal muscle mass, particularly during the first postoperative months. This trajectory may coexist with reduced absolute strength even when functional tests improve because body mass is lower. Objective: To analyze the effects of physical rehabilitation after bariatric surgery on body composition, muscle strength, cardiorespiratory capacity, and functional performance. Methods: A critical narrative review was conducted using PubMed/MEDLINE and the Cochrane Library, with the last search update on September 18, 2026. Clinical trials, systematic reviews, meta-analyses, and guidelines addressing postoperative exercise, body composition, strength, and cardiorespiratory capacity were prioritized; the final corpus comprised 23 publications. Results: Exercise training showed more consistent effects on strength, oxygen uptake, and performance tests than on preservation of lean-tissue measures. Multicomponent or progressive resistance programs with greater weekly exposure, supervision, and continuity showed the most favorable signals, although heterogeneous results preclude a universal dose. Low-exposure interventions and protein supplementation alone did not ensure muscle preservation. Conclusion: Functional recovery showed more consistent results after bariatric surgery, whereas preservation of lean-tissue measures remained variable and dependent on training dose, adherence, and clinical context. Individualized and sustained programs are more defensible than uniform prescriptions.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Rafael Viana dos Santos Coutinho, Fernanda Bonfadini Pires, Sophia Motta Guimarães, Victor Augusto Sebben, Adriano de Magalhães Ayres (Autor)
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