Obesity Surgery, July 2006: 7; 836-841(6)
Maniscalco Mauro, Zedda Anna et al.
The six-minute walk test (6mWT) is a simple index of functional capacity in healthy people and it has been used to estimate exercise capacity in obese subjects.
The aim of this study was to determine whether weight reduction induced by laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB) improves the functional capacity in the severely obese on the 6mWT.
A prospective 1-year study was carried out at the Hospital Casoria, Naples, involving 15 severely obese patients who underwent the 6mWT before and 1 year after LAGB. Body Mass Index (BMI), walking distance, heart rate, shortness of breath, and lung function tests were also measured.
The Mean BMI (weight in kgs divided by height in metres2) decreased from 42.1 (range 39-49) before to 31.9 (range 25-38) postoperatively. The distance walked increased from 475.7 meters (range 380-580) before laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding to 626.3 meters (range 435-880) 1 year postoperatively and the dyspnea (shortness of breath) score after the 6mWT was significantly reduced postoperatively. Indeed, all functional variables after the 6mWT showed improvement postoperatively at 1 year study.
The authors concluded that weight reduction in the obese increases the walking distance and lung capacity during walking. The improvements are reflected in the patients' own assessment.
