RecruitingNAINTERVENTIONAL

The Effect of Exercise in Patients Awaiting Bariatric Surgery

This study, sponsored by UCL, is investigating whether a four-week online exercise programme can help people preparing for weight-loss surgery. Researchers want to understand if exercising before surgery can make a difference to fitness levels, how the body uses energy, and weight. The study involves people awaiting surgery at specific NHS hospitals in London. Participants will be randomly assigned to either receive online exercise sessions or just general exercise advice. Researchers will measure various health markers, like fitness and weight, both before and after this four-week period to see the exercise programme's impact. The goal is to gather information that could help plan future studies on preparing for weight-loss surgery.

At a glance

Status

Recruiting

Phase

Sponsor

University College, London

Enrolment target

Start

16 Jun 2023

Estimated completion

01 Dec 2025

Bariatric Surgery Candidate Obesity

What is this study about?

This study aims to understand if a structured exercise programme before weight-loss (bariatric) surgery can be beneficial. Many people awaiting bariatric surgery are looking for ways to improve their health. This research focuses on a four-week online exercise plan designed to see if it can improve fitness levels and how a person's body uses energy, also known as their metabolic rate, before their operation. Doctors and researchers want to find out if this approach could help patients prepare better for surgery.

The study involves people due to have weight-loss surgery at University College London Hospital (UCLH), Whittington Health NHS Trust, or Homerton University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust. Participants will be put into one of two groups by chance: one group will take part in the online exercise programme, and the other will receive standard exercise advice, which acts as a comparison. Researchers will carefully measure things like fitness, how the body uses energy, and weight before and after the four-week period for everyone involved.

Ultimately, the findings from this study could help doctors understand if special exercise programmes before surgery are helpful. This information is important for improving how patients are prepared for bariatric surgery in the future, potentially leading to better outcomes for them. It's about finding the best ways to support people on their journey to better health.

Key takeaways

Tests a 4-week online exercise programme before weight-loss surgery.
Aims to improve fitness and how the body uses energy.
Compares exercise to standard advice for people awaiting surgery.
Involves measurements of fitness, weight, and metabolism.
Takes place at UCLH, Whittington Health, and Homerton hospitals.
Could help improve future preparation for weight-loss surgery.

Who may be eligible?

To join this study, you need to be an adult aged 18 or over and be scheduled for weight-loss surgery at one of the participating hospitals: UCLH, Whittington, or Homerton. Your body mass index (BMI) should be over 30 kg/m2, and your weight should have been stable (not changed by more than 5%) in the last three months. You also need to be able and willing to follow the study's plan and provide your consent to take part.

There are certain reasons why you might not be able to join. For example, if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, or if your weight is over 180 kg due to equipment limits. If you are currently taking certain heart medications (beta-blockers), or if you are already in another clinical study, you would not be eligible.

Also, if you have serious medical conditions that could make exercise risky for you, such as uncontrolled high blood pressure, unstable heart disease, or certain heart problems within the last year, you wouldn't be able to participate. The research team will carefully check all these points with you to make sure it's safe for you to take part.

Could this study suit you?

Answer these quick questions to see if you may be eligible. This is a guide only — the research team makes the final call.

Are you 18 years old or older?
Are you scheduled for weight-loss surgery at UCLH, Whittington, or Homerton?
Has your weight been stable (not changed much) in the last three months?
Are you able and willing to follow the study instructions?
Are you not pregnant or breastfeeding?
Have you been told by a doctor that it's safe for you to exercise?

Answer every question to see your result.

What does participation involve?

If you join this study, you'll be randomly assigned to one of two groups. One group will take part in a four-week online exercise programme. This will involve 7 online exercise sessions led by a physiologist and another 7 unsupervised exercise sessions you'll do on your own, each lasting 30 minutes, over the four weeks. You'll also be encouraged to be generally active for at least 150 minutes of moderate activity, or 75 minutes of vigorous activity, per week. The other group will receive general advice on exercise, but no structured programme.

Before and after the four-week period, all participants will have a series of assessments. These will measure your fitness levels, how your body uses energy (metabolism), your body weight and composition, and your grip strength. These measurements are taken at least six weeks before your surgery. Researchers will also talk to you about your experience in the study to help them plan future research. There are no study medications involved; the focus is purely on the exercise intervention. The total duration of your active involvement in the study, including assessments and the intervention, will be around four weeks.

Potential risks and benefits

Taking part in this study could offer several potential benefits. For those in the exercise group, you might experience improved fitness and a better understanding of how your body uses energy before surgery. This could potentially help with your overall preparation for the operation, although this study aims to find out if that's the case. For everyone, contributing to this research will help doctors learn more about how best to prepare patients for weight-loss surgery in the future, which ultimately could benefit many others. As with any exercise programme, there's a small potential risk of muscle soreness or injury. The exercise plan is designed to be safe, but the research team will ensure you are medically fit to participate. Remember, your participation is voluntary, and you have the right to withdraw from the study at any time, for any reason, without it affecting your medical care.

Locations (1)

Some site locations are approximate. We're improving this — please verify with the trial team before travelling.

University College London
Verified postcode
London, United Kingdom· Recruiting

Common questions

What is bariatric surgery?

Bariatric surgery is a type of weight-loss surgery for people with severe obesity when other weight loss methods haven't worked.

Will I have to pay to take part?

No, all aspects of your participation in the study are free of charge.

What if I can't do all the exercises?

The exercise programme is designed to be safe and manageable. You should discuss any difficulties or concerns with the study team.

What does 'randomised' mean?

It means you'll be assigned to either the exercise group or the advice-only group by chance, like flipping a coin. This helps ensure the study results are fair.

How long will the study go on for?

Your active participation, including assessments and the potential exercise programme, will last for a period of four weeks.

How to find out more

Daniel Martin

daniel.martin@plymouth.ac.uk +44 1752 600600 Official trial record

Always speak to your GP or specialist before deciding to take part in a study.