JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

Resistance training has been consistently shown to have multiple health benefits, especially in patients who have undergone bariatric surgery. Bariatric surgery patients are recommended to participate in resistance exercise, however protocols and guidelines for resistance training remain poorly implemented.

Objective:

This is a protocol for a systematic review and possibly a meta-analysis that will synthesize evidence of the effects of resistance exercise in post-metabolic and bariatric surgery (MBS) patients on the changes in body composition, muscular strength, overall weight loss or maintenance of weight loss and quality of life. The findings of this study will offer guidelines for resistance training among post-MBS patients.

Methods:

This systematic review will be registered on PROSPERO. A systematic search of electronic databases (Embase, PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science and Cumulated Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature) was conducted from January 1, 1991, to May 15, 2023 to identify English-only and human studies on adult patients who have undergone MBS that include a resistance training intervention and describe outcome measurements of body composition or strength. Screening will be performed using PRISMA guidelines and relevant data elements will be extracted.

Results:

Searches and screening will be completed by the end of September 2023. Data extraction and analyses will be completed by the end of December 2023, after which findings will be synthesized and reported by the end of March 2024.

Conclusions:

This systematic review will summarize the evidence regarding resistance training in post-MBS patients. The findings from this review will provide guidelines for resistance training protocols in this patient population and identify characteristics of protocols with the best adherence and outcomes to work toward helping patients achieve long-term weight management and strength.