Why Physical Activity Matters After Bariatric Surgery or While Taking GLP-1 Medications

Rapid weight loss — whether through bariatric surgery or GLP-1 medications such as Ozempic®, Wegovy®, or Mounjaro® — doesn’t just reduce fat mass. Without proper support, it can also lead to muscle loss and decreased bone density.

Yet preserving lean muscle mass is essential to maintain your metabolism, balance, posture, and mobility. Likewise, protecting your bone density helps prevent fractures and ensures long-term physical independence. This is why physical activity — tailored, progressive, and consistent — is a crucial part of any healthy weight loss journey.

The type of exercise recommended depends on your recovery stage and physical condition. In the first few weeks after surgery or the beginning of GLP-1 treatment, gentle movement (such as walking, deep breathing, or light stretching) promotes circulation and supports healing. As you progress, resistance training and low-impact cardio help you maintain strength, support your skeleton, and stabilize weight loss.

This patient guide was designed to help you safely reintroduce movement into your routine, with advice adapted to both surgical recovery and medication-assisted weight loss. You can view or print the sheet and discuss it with your surgeon, physiotherapist, or physician.

Your body is changing — support it, strengthen it, respect it.

File PDF : Activité physique

♦ To contact and make an appointment with Dr. Bruto Randone, Visceral Digestive and Bariatric Surgeon at the Clinique Internationale du Parc Monceau, 21 Rue de Chazelles, 75017 Paris, France, or at the Clinique Bizet, 23 Rue Georges Bizet, 75116 Paris, France, click on Contact