Peri-operative counselling to increase physical activity of patients after bariatric surgery: findings and implications of a terminated trial

To investigate whether individualised, peri-operative, activity counselling vs. standard advice increases activity after bariatric surgery, we conducted a randomised controlled trial. The trial was prematurely terminated due to slow recruitment and high non-completion rate. We report some emergent findings: physical activity levels pre-operatively and eight and 52 weeks post-operatively; and of risk models for participants who achieved the physical activity goal and for participants who completed the study. Of 269 participants, 132 were randomised to the intervention and 137 to the control group. The intervention group received individualised counselling to increase physical activity perioperatively. The control group received standard advice. The primary dependent variable was self-reported physical activity level. No differences were observed in physical activity levels between groups. The factor that most impacted participants’ achievement of the activity goal eight weeks post-operatively was being at goal pre-operatively. Regarding study completion, older age increased and smoking decreased the odds. From this prematurely terminated and thus underpowered trial, it was not possible to establish an intervention effect. Nonetheless, the study contributes by identifying factors associated with adherence and barriers to activity programs by individuals who are obese, providing useful information for the future design of related interventions.