Bariatric Surgery and Exercise

Patients that undergo, either a Gastric Sleeve or a Gastric Plication, are encouraged to start an exercise routine in order to accomplish their weight loss goals. But what exercises are safe and when can they start them?

The best recommendation we give patients is that they should start walking as soon as they are recovering from surgery, because it helps to dissipate the gas that is used for the laparoscopic surgery. After they are discharged, patients are encouraged to continue walking during the day. Normally it’s recommended for patients to walk at lest 30 minutes a day.

After surgery

After surgery patients have limitations in terms of weight lifting, this type of exercise is not recommended until after 3 weeks post surgery, and even then, they should start off slow, with very minimal weight.

Later on, as the patients progress and lose weight, they can start doing other exercise routines, such as running, bicycling, swimming. Afterwards, they can choose more vigorous activities, as long as they are safe for them to do. We always recommend they ask us before starting any new routines in order to determine if they are safe for the patients to do.

You know your limits

The best measuring point for how much a patient can do is the patient itself, how they feel and if they can tolerate it. We recommended they start slowly and work their way to a better health.


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OCC’s epidemiologist is closely monitoring the COVID-19 status and is actively issuing updates as they are available. The Centers for Disease Control and the World Health Organization are the most trusted sources online.  While the CDC has announced new mask protocols for vaccinated individuals, there will be no changes for our office protocols for patients, guests, and staff members as the announcement does not apply to hospitals or medical facilities. Masks are still a requirement for all patients, guests and staff at our facility.

As we reinitiate weight loss surgery, we are constantly adapting and installing new and updated safety measures.

Weight loss surgery is medically necessary.

Bariatric Surgery and the clash of two pandemics.   

Major metabolic and bariatric surgery Societies and colleges globally are now calling for the safe resumption of bariatric and metabolic surgery before the COVID-19 pandemic is declared over. 

The sooner bariatric surgery can be safely performed, the quicker obesity, type 2 diabetes, and other diseases can be reduced or resolved as they are not only chronic they are also progressive.  Obesity is also linked to more than 40 diseases including type 2 diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, stroke, sleep apnea, osteoarthritis, and at least 13 different types of cancer.

A recent statement from the ASMBS says “Before COVID-19 began, it was clear that patients with obesity were ‘safer through surgery.’ In the era of COVID-19, ‘safer through surgery’ for patients with obesity may prove to be even more important than before.” Obesity and Metabolic syndrome have been identified as an independent risk factor for adverse outcomes including death among COVID-19 patients.

See here for full COVID-19 update. 

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