Women undergoing Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass surgery: Family resemblance in pre- to postsurgery physical activity and sedentary behavior in children and spouses.

BACKGROUND

Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass (RYGB) surgery among women often greatly decreases their body size. It may also change their spouses', children's, and their own physical activity (PA) and sedentary behavior (SB) patterns.

OBJECTIVES

The aim was objectively to measure and compare pre- to postsurgery changes in different PA intensities and SB in children and spouses 3 months before and 9 months after maternal RYGB.

METHODS

Recruitment from RYGB waiting lists at 5 Swedish hospitals generated a study population of 56 women, with 75 children aged 7-14 years, and 33 spouses. PA was measured over one week using tri-axial Actigraph GT3 X+accelerometers, and anthropometric measures were taken at home visits 3 months before and 9 months after maternal surgery.

RESULTS

Mean time spent on moderate to vigorous PA (MVPA) by children pre- and postsurgery was 76.3 (SD 40.6) and 65.3 (SD 31.5) min/d, respectively, by spouses 31.2 (SD 18.0) and 33.6 (SD 18.1), and by the women 32.9 (SD 23.4.0) and 34.3 (SD 28.6). Mean time spent sedentary by children pre- and postsurgery was 320.7 (SD 143.4) and 374.4 (SD 123.3) min/d, respectively, by spouses 423.7 (SD 141.5) and 472.1 (SD 145.9), and by the women 425.5 (SD 138.2) and 420.0 (SD 127.8).

CONCLUSIONS

Between 3 months before and 9 months after RYGB, objective measurements showed a significant decrease in MVPA and an increase in SB among children, but no differences were observed for spouses or women. Interventions may be needed to promote PA within the family after mothers' RYGB surgery.