Journal of Obesity & Weight Loss Therapy
Open Access

Abstract

Introduction: The respiratory function is affected by obesity due to an increased deposition of fat on the chest wall. Objectives: The objective of this study was to investigate the strength of the inspiratory respiratory muscles of obese individuals and the possible influence of bariatric surgery. Methods: Of the patients referred to our bariatric centre between the 3rd of October 2011 and the 3rd of May 2012 the Maximum Inspiratory Pressure (MIP) was measured at screening and 3, 6 and 9 months postoperative. Results: The mean age of the 124 included patients was 42.9 �?± 11.0 years and mean BMI was 43.1 �?± 5.2 kg/m2. The mean predicted MIP preoperatively was 127 �?± 31 in cm H2O and the mean measured MIP was 102 �?± 24 in cm H2O. Three patients (2.4%) received training. Three months after surgery the MIP was 76 �?± 26 cm H2O, after 6 months 82 �?± 28 cm H2O and after 9 months 86 �?± 28 cm H2O. All postoperative measurements were significant lower than preoperatively (P<0.05). No significant difference was found between patients who had a sleeve gastrectomy compared to a gastric bypass (P=0.06, P=0.165 and P=0.124 after 3, 6 and 9 months respectively). The only influencing factor for the preoperative MIP was age (p=0.014). Conclusion: The preoperative MIP values were significantly lower than the predicted MIP values and a significant decrease in inspiratory pressures was found at 3, 6 and 9 months after Bariatric surgery.

Biography

Sjaak Pouwels has recently finished Medical School and is currently working on his PhD thesis called ‘Exercise and Physiology in Abdominal and Bariatric surgery’. He is currently working in the Catharina Hospital Eindhoven in the Netherlands at both the General Surgery Department and the Bariatric Centre. His main research interests are perioperative physiology and exercise in the broadest way possible.

Email: sjaak.pouwels@catharinaziekenhuis.nl