Ibacache-Saavedra P, Jerez-Mayorga D, Carretero-Ruiz A, et al. - In this systematic review and meta‐analysis, moderate-quality evidence was generated that bariatric surgery (BS)-induced weight loss can decrease cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) in the short term, which affords a treatment target to optimize BS results.

• From the WoS, PubMed, MEDLINE, and Scopus databases, relevant observational and intervention studies (n= 11 articles; 312 patients) were analyzed to assess postoperative alterations in CRF (VO _2max/peak ) and its link with weight loss in adults undergoing BS.

• BS caused a decrease in absolute VO _2max/peak in the short term, and a greater loss of absolute VO _2max/peak was also detected in those patients who had a more significant reduction in BMI post-BS.

• However, VO _2max/peak relative to body weight elevated post-surgery.