Send Orders for Reprints to reprints@benthamscience.net 38 The Open Obesity Journal, 2014, 6, 38-43 1876-8237/14 2014 Bentham Open Open Access Physical Fitness and Physical Activity in Swedish Women before and one Year after Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass Surgery Malin Wiklund a,* , Monika F. Olsén a , Torsten Olbers b and Åsa Cider a a Department of Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, and Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology/Physiotherapy, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden b Department of Surgery, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden Abstract: Introduction: Obesity is associated with a sedentary life style, which has a negative impact on physical fitness. Aim: To investigate physical fitness, physical activity level and time spent sitting in Swedish women before and one year after laparoscopic Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass surgery (LRYGB). Method: Thirty-seven women (age: 41.2±9.6 years and Body Mass Index (BMI): 42±6.5 kg/m 2 ) were tested before and one year after LRYGB. (BMI: 30.5±5.8 kg/m 2 ). Physical fitness was assessed using the six minute walk test (6MWT), and three muscular endurance and one handgrip test. Physical activity level and sitting time were assessed using the short form of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ). Results: One year after surgery the mean distance walked during 6MWT increased from 532 m to 599 m (p=<0.001) and the muscular endurance was significantly improved (p0.016), while no statistical significant difference was found in grip force compared to pre-operatively. After surgery, the women walked significantly more minutes/week (p=0.018) and increased their level of moderate (p=0.039) and vigorous (p=0.033) physical activity, but there were no significant differences in sitting time (p=0.206) compared to preoperatively. Conclusions: The physical activity level as well as physical fitness increased while grip strength remained same in Swedish women one year after LRYGB, compared to before surgery. The improved physical fitness and the considerable weight loss are important factors in reducing the risk of developing lifestyle associated diseases and risk of premature death in this group of women. But even if both physical activity and physical fitness increased at group level one year after LRYGB, some individuals still needed to be more physically active and to enhance the physical fitness level. These patients might benefit from physiotherapy to be able to be more physically active. Keywords: Gastric bypass surgery, muscular endurance, muscular strength, obesity, physical activity, physical fitness. INTRODUCTION Obesity is often associated with low levels of physical activity and a sedentary life style that has a negative impact on physical fitness. For most individuals, an increased physical activity results in an improved physical fitness, even if the amount of adaptation in physical fitness to a certain exercise program varies widely and is under genetic control [1]. The health-related components of physical fitness are cardiorespiratory endurance, muscular endurance, muscular strength, body composition, and flexibility [2]. In this study, we focus on cardiorespiratory endurance, muscular endurance and muscular strength. It is still largely unknown whether a bariatric surgery- induced decrease in BMI affects muscle endurance and muscle strength in women. It has, however, been shown that *Address correspondence to this author at the Department of Physiotherapy, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, 413 45 Gothenburg, Sweden; Tel: 0046 31 3421195; Fax: 0046 31 342 43 41; E-mail: malin.wiklund@vgregion.se in men this intervention is associated with a significant decline in muscular strength, particularly in the lower limbs, one year after surgery [3]. Bariatric surgery has been found to improve the distance walked during the six minute walk test (6MWT) [4-6]. One of the purposes of this study was to find out whether this could be shown in a Swedish population of women. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that adults should participate in  150 minutes of at least moderate intensity aerobic physical activity throughout the week to reduce the risk of chronic disease [7]. It has previously been shown that one year after LRYGB surgery, 57% of the American patients were physically active on a moderate or higher intensity level  150 minutes/week, while 26% of the patients reported no physical activity on a moderate or higher intensity level as assessed by the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) [8]. It is not yet evaluated to what extent Swedish women fulfill the WHO recommendation before or one year after laparoscopic Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass surgery (LRYGB).