Effect of Exercise and Surgical Weight Loss on Polyneuropathy

The Effect of High Intensity Interval Training and Surgical Weight Loss on Distal Symmetric Polyneuropathy Outcomes

The purpose of this research study is to evaluate how exercise and surgical weight loss affect how likely an individual is to develop peripheral neuropathy and other neurologic complications.

The length of this study, including screening is approximately 24 months. Patients at Bariatric Surgery Clinics will be recruited for this study. Both patients that decide to undergo bariatric surgery, and those that do not undergo surgery will be enrolled. Patients will be randomized to either a high intensity interval training (HIIT) or standard exercise regimen after eligibility is confirmed and the baseline visit is complete. All patients will complete follow-up appointments at 3 month, 12 months and 24 months. Patients that are randomized to the HIIT program will compete 2 supervised and 1 unsupervised training sessions a week for 24 months.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Attending a bariatric surgery clinic
• BMI > 35 with one comorbid condition present or BMI > 40 without comorbid conditions present
• Willing and capable to sign the Institutional Review Board (IRB) approved consent form and cooperate with the medical procedures for the study duration
• Willing to accept random treatment assignment to HIIT or routine exercise counseling

Exclusion Criteria:

• History of distal symmetric polyneuropathy (DSP) from causes other than diabetes and/or the metabolic syndrome as determined through medical history, family history, history of medications, occupational history, history of exposure to toxins, physical and neurological examinations;
• Use of warfarin, heparin, or other anticoagulants, which would increase the risk of complications from skin biopsy
• Contraindication to HIIT participation including a failed exercise stress test
• Participation in an experimental medication trial within 3 months of starting the study
• Undergoing therapy for malignant disease other than basal-cell or squamous-cell skin cancer
• Medical or psychiatric reason for not being a surgical candidate
• Requiring a walking assist device;
• Currently smoking