Physical activity and sedentary behaviour after bariatric surgery
Research type
Research Study
Full title
A prospective feasibility trial, to facilitate increases in physical activity and reduce sedentary behaviour in patients after bariatric surgery
IRAS ID
288505
Contact name
Jennifer James
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Liverpool
ISRCTN Number
ISRCTN31524689
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 10 months, 1 days
Research summary
Summary of Research
The proposed is a feasibility study, of a group-based behaviour change programme (also referred to as an intervention) which has been designed to help people who have had bariatric surgery (for obesity) to become more physically active and less sedentary (time spend sitting or lying).
Obesity, (defined as a body mass index greater than 30 kg/m2) is associated with significant health conditions such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease and some cancers. One of the final treatment options for severe obesity is bariatric surgery; research shows that patients who are able to increase their activity levels after surgery have better outcomes in terms of their weight, and quality of life. Unfortunately, not all patients who have surgery become more active and some become less so.
The programme will involve up-to 6 participants ‘meeting’ online via Zoom, once a week for six weeks where they will go through a set programme, which will use behaviour change techniques to help participants to become more active and less sedentary. The programme has been developed from previous interviews with patients, clinicians and commissioners who commission NHS care after bariatric surgery and the available research that has already been published. This programme has been developed with a patient and public involvement group, who have contributed to the study design, paperwork and practicalities of doing this study.
There will be four site visits to Liverpool Hospitals NHSFT to do screening, baseline, post-intervention and follow up. Some participants will be asked to take part in an interview to discuss the programme; what they liked, didn’t like and how it could be improved for the future. The shortest time someone could be in the study is 13 weeks and the longest is 32.
This study is part of PhD and has been funded by the National Institute for Health Research.Summary of Results
After bariatric or weight loss surgery, some people do not increase their level of physical activity and they might sit for the same amount of time as they did before surgery. Research suggests that people who are able to move more and sit less after surgery might have better results than those who do not.
There have been studies that have aimed to help people to become more active after surgery but they haven't always been clearly described or explained, and so it's difficult to replicate them.
As a result, we designed our own programme. It is six weeks long, based on theory and evidence, led by a qualified physiotherapist and is delivered online. In total 18 people started the study and 15 finished it. The study team were interested in whether or not we could do the study that we had designed on a larger scale, if participants liked the programme and if the study overall was acceptable to them.
The result of the study were that it would be possible to do the study on a larger scale, the participants liked the programme but there are some parts that they think should be changed. For example, they did not like one of the questionnaires and think it would be better if the study could start before surgery. We were also able to calculate how many people would be required in a future study for us to be able to confidently say that this programme was effective or not.
Overall, we achieved our aims, and are now considering how we might use the results from this study to do a larger study..REC name
North West - Haydock Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
20/NW/0472
Date of REC Opinion
22 Dec 2020
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion