Capstone Projects

Changes in Bariatric Surgery Patient Metrics

Program: Health and Wellness Management
Host Company: ThedaCare
Location: Neenah, Wisconsin (onsite)
Student: Jess Marshall

Bariatric surgery is an effective way to treat the disease of obesity and is increasingly becoming more popular. Patient compliance with lifestyle modifications after bariatric surgery is a key part of ensuring maintained health benefits and weight loss. However, exercise is the most likely area of behavioral noncompliance after bariatric surgery. This project investigated whether bariatric surgery patients in a local healthcare system’s bariatric surgery program achieved a greater body fat percentage reduction post-operatively since the addition of an Exercise Physiologist to the Bariatrics department compared to patients who had bariatric surgery prior to the Exercise Physiologist joining the Bariatrics department.