BARIATRIC SURGERY INDUCES POSITIVE CHANGES IN BODY COMPOSITION IN OLDER ADULTS

The number of older adults have increased considerably in the last years, as well as the number of obese older adults is also on the rise. Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the changes in body composition of older adults after 3, 6, and 12 months of bariatric surgery. Materials and Methods: A historical cohort of 35 older adults (62.35 +/- 1.47 years) who underwent bariatric surgery took part in this study. Body composition was analyzed by bioelectrical impedance. Data regarding physical activity and diet profile were also analyzed. Results: There was a significant reduction in body weight and fat percentage after the surgery, and skeletal muscle mass showed stabilization 6 months after the surgery. Forty-eight percent of the participants adhered to a combination of aerobic and resistance training and to a higher protein intake after the surgery. Conclusion: We believe that our main finding was the maintenance of lean muscle mass despite the weight reduction after the surgery and that this was associated with the combination of resistance training and the increase in protein intake.