BACKGROUND: Bariatric surgery is a safe and effective method to lose weight over time. However, some patients fail to achieve healthy weight losses. We aimed to determine if a moderate-intensity physical exercise intervention in patients who underwent bariatric surgery increases their functional capacity thus improving bariatric surgery results. METHODS: We conducted a parallel-group non-blinded randomized controlled trial at a surgery clinic in Talca, Chile. A total of 43 participants with obesity and scheduled bariatric surgery completed the six months follow-up. A physical exercise program was conducted in exercise group participants one month after bariatric surgery. Walked distance in the six-minute walk test, BMI, Borg scale of perceptive exertion results and cardiovascular variables were evaluated. RESULTS: Patients' weight significantly decreased after bariatric surgery but there was no difference between the groups of study. The exercise group progressed from a base value of 550 +/- 75 m walked in the six-minute walk test to a sixth-month value of 649.6 +/- 68.5 m (p < 0.05), whilst the control group yielded base values of 554.4 +/- 35.1 and a sixth-month walked distance of 591.1 +/- 75.34 (p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Physical exercise in obese patients undergoing bariatric surgery increased functional capacity independently of weight losses resulting from bariatric surgery.

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