Language

English

Publication Date

6-1-2025

Journal

Obesity

DOI

10.1002/oby.24285

PMID

40259728

PMCID

PMC12119214

PubMedCentral® Posted Date

4-21-2025

PubMedCentral® Full Text Version

Post-print

Abstract

Objective: The long-term durability of improvements in functional mobility and musculoskeletal pain for adolescents after metabolic and bariatric surgery (MBS) is unknown.

Methods: We used the Teen-Longitudinal Assessment of Bariatric Surgery (Teen-LABS) study to determine the change in mobility and pain among adolescents who underwent MBS. From standardized 400-m walk tests, we analyzed walk time, heart rate (HR) parameters, and musculoskeletal pain.

Results: The mean walk time improved from 383 s (95% CI: 368-399) prior to surgery to 351 s (95% CI: 330-372) by 6 years. The mean resting HR was 90 beats per minute (bpm; 95% CI: 87-93) preoperatively and decreased to 80 bpm (95% CI: 76-84) by 6 years. The risk of any musculoskeletal pain decreased from 37.2% (95% CI: 25.5%-48.9%) to 11.0% (95% CI: 4.3%-17.6%) by 6 years. Mediation analysis revealed that the effect of time since surgery on walk time, resting HR, and HR recovery occurred through a weight-dependent mechanism. For posttest HR and HR difference, there was both a significant weight-dependent and weight-independent mechanism. The effect of surgery on the risk of musculoskeletal pain occurred through a weight-independent mechanism.

Conclusions: Adolescents who underwent MBS experienced significant, durable improvement in mobility and pain, despite weight regain. Our models suggest that improvements may occur through a weight-independent mechanism.

Keywords

Humans, Adolescent, Female, Male, Bariatric Surgery, Longitudinal Studies, Musculoskeletal Pain, Walking, Heart Rate, Pediatric Obesity, Treatment Outcome

Published Open-Access

yes

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