Abstract
BACKGROUND: We aimed to analyze the relationship between physical activity and the factors related to the weight management of bariatric surgery patients. METHODS: This descriptive-correlational study was conducted on 87 participants, who underwent bariatric surgery in Cyprus between May and Oct 2020. The International Physical Activity Questionnaire and a questionnaire on socio-demographic and obesity characteristics were used to collect data. RESULTS: Mean age of the participants was 34.7±8.43 and 65.5% were female. A statistically significant difference was found between physical activity levels and weight loss (P=0.021). Post-bariatric surgery physical activity level was low active for 65.5% of the participants. There was a statistically significant difference between the MET scores of the participants according to their gender, and the scores of men were higher than women (2256.9; 1110.9 respectively). Although most of the participants in the study were females, women lost less weight than males (45.5; 54.2 respectively). CONCLUSION: Being female, married, and having chronic diseases caused less weight loss after bariatric surgery. As the physical activity levels of the patients increased, their weight loss increased. In line with these results, people undergone bariatric surgery and are at risk of regaining weight should be followed closely after surgery and appropriate physical activities should be planned.