Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Article
  • Published:

Bariatric Surgery

Exercise modifies hypothalamic connectivity and brain functional networks in women after bariatric surgery: a randomized clinical trial

International Journal of Obesity volume 47, pages 165–174 (2023)Cite this article

Subjects

Abstract

Background

Obesity is a disease that may involve disrupted connectivity of brain networks. Bariatric surgery is an effective treatment for obesity, and the positive effects on obesity-related conditions may be enhanced by exercise. Herein, we aimed to investigate the possible synergistic effects of Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass (RYGB) and exercise training on brain functional networks.

Methods

Thirty women eligible for bariatric surgery were randomly assigned to a Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB: n = 15, age = 41.0 ± 7.3 years) or RYGB plus Exercise Training (RYGB + ET: n = 15, age = 41.9 ± 7.2 years). Clinical, laboratory, and brain functional connectivity parameters were assessed at baseline, and 3 (POST3) and 9 months (POST9) after surgery. The 6-month, three-times-a-week, exercise intervention (resistance plus aerobic exercise) was initiated 3 months post-surgery (for RYGB + ET).

Results

Exercise superimposed on bariatric surgery (RYGB + ET) increased connectivity between hypothalamus and sensorial regions (seed-to-voxel analyses of hypothalamic connectivity), and decreased default mode network (DMN) and posterior salience (pSAL) network connectivity (ROI-to-ROI analyses of brain networks connectivity) when compared to RYGB alone (all p-FDR < 0.05). Increases in basal ganglia (BG) network connectivity were only observed in the exercised training group (within-group analyses).

Conclusion

Exercise training is an important component in the management of post-bariatric patients and may improve the hypothalamic connectivity and brain functional networks that are involved in controlling food intake.

Trial registration

Clinicaltrial.gov: NCT02441361.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

  • Purchase on Springer Link
  • Instant access to full article PDF
Buy now

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Fig. 1
Fig. 2: Seed-to-voxel analyses of hypothalamic connectivity.
Fig. 3: ROI-to-ROI analyses of ventral default mode network (vDMN) connectivity.
Fig. 4: ROI-to-ROI analyses of posterior salience (pSAL) network connectivity.
Fig. 5: ROI-to-ROI analyses of basal ganglia (BG) network connectivity.

Similar content being viewed by others

Data availability

The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author, BG, upon reasonable request.

References

  1. Hossain P, Kawar B, El Nahas M. Obesity and diabetes in the developing world–a growing challenge. N Engl J Med. 2007;356:213–5.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Shefer G, Marcus Y, Stern N. Is obesity a brain disease? Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 2013;37:2489–503.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Deco G, Jirsa VK, McIntosh AR. Emerging concepts for the dynamical organization of resting-state activity in the brain. Nat Rev Neurosci. 2011;12:43–56.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Syan SK, McIntyre-Wood C, Minuzzi L, Hall G, McCabe RE, MacKillop J. Dysregulated resting state functional connectivity and obesity: a systematic review. Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 2021;131:270–92.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Donofry SD, Stillman CM, Erickson KI. A review of the relationship between eating behavior, obesity and functional brain network organization. Soc Cogn Affect Neurosci. 2020;15:1157–81.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. NIH conference. Gastrointestinal surgery for severe obesity. Consensus Development Conference Panel. Ann Intern Med. 1991;115:956–61.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Ashrafian H, le Roux CW, Darzi A, Athanasiou T. Effects of bariatric surgery on cardiovascular function. Circulation. 2008;118:2091–102.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Kirwan JP, Courcoulas AP, Cummings DE, Goldfine AB, Kashyap SR, Simonson DC, et al. Diabetes remission in the alliance of randomized trials of medicine versus metabolic surgery in type 2 diabetes (ARMMS-T2D). Diabetes Care. 2022;45:1574–83.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. van de Sande-Lee S, Pereira FR, Cintra DE, Fernandes PT, Cardoso AR, Garlipp CR, et al. Partial reversibility of hypothalamic dysfunction and changes in brain activity after body mass reduction in obese subjects. Diabetes. 2011;60:1699–704.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  10. Schauer PR, Bhatt DL, Kirwan JP, Wolski K, Aminian A, Brethauer SA, et al. Bariatric surgery versus intensive medical therapy for diabetes—5-year outcomes. N Engl J Med. 2017;376:641–51.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  11. Olivo G, Zhou W, Sundbom M, Zhukovsky C, Hogenkamp P, Nikontovic L, et al. Resting-state brain connectivity changes in obese women after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery: a longitudinal study. Sci Rep. 2017;7:6616.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  12. Salem V, Demetriou L, Behary P, Alexiadou K, Scholtz S, Tharakan G, et al. Weight loss by low-calorie diet versus gastric bypass surgery in people with diabetes results in divergent brain activation patterns: a functional MRI study. Diabetes Care. 2021;44:1842–51.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  13. Dantas WS, Gil S, Murai IH, Costa-Hong V, Pecanha T, Merege-Filho CAA, et al. Reversal of improved endothelial function after bariatric surgery is mitigated by exercise training. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2018;72:2278–9.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Dantas WS, Roschel H, Murai IH, Gil S, Davuluri G, Axelrod CL, et al. Exercise-induced increases in insulin sensitivity after bariatric surgery are mediated by muscle extracellular matrix remodeling. Diabetes. 2020;69:1675–91.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  15. Gil S, Pecanha T, Dantas WS, Murai IH, Merege-Filho CAA, de Sa-Pinto AL, et al. Exercise enhances the effect of bariatric surgery in markers of cardiac autonomic function. Obes Surg. 2020;31:1381–6.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  16. Coen PM, Menshikova EV, Distefano G, Zheng D, Tanner CJ, Standley RA, et al. Exercise and weight loss improve muscle mitochondrial respiration, lipid partitioning, and insulin sensitivity after gastric bypass surgery. Diabetes. 2015;64:3737–50.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  17. Coen PM, Tanner CJ, Helbling NL, Dubis GS, Hames KC, Xie H, et al. Clinical trial demonstrates exercise following bariatric surgery improves insulin sensitivity. J Clin Investig. 2015;125:248–57.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Gil S, Kirwan JP, Murai IH, Dantas WS, Merege-Filho CAA, Ghosh S, et al. A randomized clinical trial on the effects of exercise on muscle remodelling following bariatric surgery. J Cachexia, Sarcopenia Muscle. 2021;12:1440–55.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Murai IH, Roschel H, Dantas WS, Gil S, Merege-Filho C, de Cleva R, et al. Exercise mitigates bone loss in women with severe obesity after roux-en-y gastric bypass: a randomized controlled trial. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2019;104:4639–50.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Hillman CH, Erickson KI, Kramer AF. Be smart, exercise your heart: exercise effects on brain and cognition. Nat Rev Neurosci. 2008;9:58–65.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Won J, Callow DD, Pena GS, Gogniat MA, Kommula Y, Arnold-Nedimala NA, et al. Evidence for exercise-related plasticity in functional and structural neural network connectivity. Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 2021;131:923–40.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  22. Evero N, Hackett LC, Clark RD, Phelan S, Hagobian TA. Aerobic exercise reduces neuronal responses in food reward brain regions. J Appl Physiol. 2012;112:1612–9.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. McFadden KL, Cornier MA, Melanson EL, Bechtell JL, Tregellas JR. Effects of exercise on resting-state default mode and salience network activity in overweight/obese adults. Neuroreport. 2013;24:866–71.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  24. Friedewald WT, Levy RI, Fredrickson DS. Estimation of the concentration of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol in plasma, without use of the preparative ultracentrifuge. Clin Chem. 1972;18:499–502.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Muschelli J, Nebel MB, Caffo BS, Barber AD, Pekar JJ, Mostofsky SH. Reduction of motion-related artifacts in resting state fMRI using aCompCor. Neuroimage. 2014;96:22–35.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Whitfield-Gabrieli S, Nieto-Castanon A. Conn: a functional connectivity toolbox for correlated and anticorrelated brain networks. Brain Connect. 2012;2:125–41.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Baroncini M, Jissendi P, Balland E, Besson P, Pruvo JP, Francke JP, et al. MRI atlas of the human hypothalamus. Neuroimage. 2012;59:168–80.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. Ding Y, Ji G, Li G, Zhang W, Hu Y, Liu L, et al. Altered interactions among resting-state networks in individuals with obesity. Obesity. 2020;28:601–8.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. Prehn K, Lesemann A, Krey G, Witte AV, Kobe T, Grittner U, et al. Using resting-state fMRI to assess the effect of aerobic exercise on functional connectivity of the DLPFC in older overweight adults. Brain Cognition. 2019;131:34–44.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  30. Shirer WR, Ryali S, Rykhlevskaia E, Menon V, Greicius MD. Decoding subject-driven cognitive states with whole-brain connectivity patterns. Cereb Cortex. 2012;22:158–65.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  31. Morton GJ, Cummings DE, Baskin DG, Barsh GS, Schwartz MW. Central nervous system control of food intake and body weight. Nature. 2006;443:289–95.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  32. Kerem L, Holsen L, Fazeli P, Bredella MA, Mancuso C, Resulaj M, et al. Modulation of neural fMRI responses to visual food cues by overeating and fasting interventions: a preliminary study. Physiol Rep. 2021;8:e14639.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  33. Kullmann S, Pape AA, Heni M, Ketterer C, Schick F, Haring HU, et al. Functional network connectivity underlying food processing: disturbed salience and visual processing in overweight and obese adults. Cereb Cortex. 2013;23:1247–56.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  34. Cavalcanti-de-Albuquerque JP, Donato J Jr. Rolling out physical exercise and energy homeostasis: focus on hypothalamic circuitries. Front Neuroendocrinol. 2021;63:100944.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  35. Ibeas K, Herrero L, Mera P, Serra D. Hypothalamus-skeletal muscle crosstalk during exercise and its role in metabolism modulation. Biochem Pharmacol. 2021;190:114640.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  36. Tregellas JR, Wylie KP, Rojas DC, Tanabe J, Martin J, Kronberg E, et al. Altered default network activity in obesity. Obesity. 2011;19:2316–21.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  37. Heinrichs HS, Beyer F, Medawar E, Prehn K, Ordemann J, Floel A, et al. Effects of bariatric surgery on functional connectivity of the reward and default mode network: a pre-registered analysis. Hum Brain Mapp. 2021;42:5357–73.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  38. Seeley WW, Menon V, Schatzberg AF, Keller J, Glover GH, Kenna H, et al. Dissociable intrinsic connectivity networks for salience processing and executive control. J Neurosci. 2007;27:2349–56.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  39. Garcia-Garcia I, Jurado MA, Garolera M, Segura B, Sala-Llonch R, Marques-Iturria I, et al. Alterations of the salience network in obesity: a resting-state fMRI study. Hum Brain Mapp. 2013;34:2786–97.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  40. Sewaybricker LE, Melhorn SJ, Askren MK, Webb MF, Tyagi V, De Leon MRB, et al. Salience network connectivity is reduced by a meal and influenced by genetic background and hypothalamic gliosis. Int J Obes. 2020;44:167–77.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  41. DelParigi A, Chen K, Salbe AD, Hill JO, Wing RR, Reiman EM, et al. Successful dieters have increased neural activity in cortical areas involved in the control of behavior. Int J Obes. 2007;31:440–8.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  42. Tan Z, Hu Y, Ji G, Li G, Ding Y, Zhang W, et al. Alterations in functional and structural connectivity of basal ganglia network in patients with obesity. Brain Topogr. 2022;35:453–63.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  43. Gualano B, Kirwan JP, Roschel H. Exercise is key to sustaining metabolic gains after bariatric surgery. Exerc Sport Sci Rev. 2021;49:197–204.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

Download references

Funding

The authors acknowledge the support by Sao Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP - 2016/10993-5), the Brazilian National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq - grant 400157/2016-0 and 301571/2017-1). The study is also partially supported by NIGMS U54GM104940, and NIGMS P20GM103528 from NIH, USA.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Applied Physiology & Nutrition Research Group; School of Physical Education and Sport; Laboratory of Assessment and Conditioning in Rheumatology; Faculdade de Medicina FMUSP, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil

    Carlos A. A. Merege-Filho, Saulo S. Gil, Igor H. Murai, Alisson Padilha de Lima, Hamilton Roschel & Bruno Gualano

  2. Rheumatology Division, Hospital das Clínicas HCFMUSP, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil

    Carlos A. A. Merege-Filho, Saulo S. Gil, Igor H. Murai, Alisson Padilha de Lima, Rosa M. R. Pereira, Ana L. de Sá-Pinto, Fernanda R. Lima, Hamilton Roschel & Bruno Gualano

  3. Integrated Physiology and Molecular Medicine Laboratory, Pennington Biomedical Research Center, Baton Rouge, LA, USA

    John P. Kirwan & Wagner S. Dantas

  4. Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Neuroradiology (LIM-44), Hospital das Clinicas HCFMUSP, Faculdade de Medicina Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil

    Mariana P. Nucci, Bruno Pastorello, Paulo R. Bazán, Claudia da Costa Leite & Maria Concepción García Otaduy

  5. Cognitive and Behavioral Neurology Unit, Department of Neurology, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil

    Sonia M. D. Brucki

  6. Gastroenterology Department, Digestive Surgery Division Department of Digestive Division, Hospital das Clínicas HCFMUSP, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil

    Roberto de Cleva & Marco A. Santo

Authors
  1. Carlos A. A. Merege-Filho
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Saulo S. Gil
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. John P. Kirwan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Igor H. Murai
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Wagner S. Dantas
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Mariana P. Nucci
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Bruno Pastorello
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. Alisson Padilha de Lima
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  9. Paulo R. Bazán
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  10. Rosa M. R. Pereira
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  11. Ana L. de Sá-Pinto
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  12. Fernanda R. Lima
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  13. Sonia M. D. Brucki
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  14. Roberto de Cleva
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  15. Marco A. Santo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  16. Claudia da Costa Leite
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  17. Maria Concepción García Otaduy
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  18. Hamilton Roschel
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  19. Bruno Gualano
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Contributions

CAAMF, IHM, HR, WSD, SG, RC, MAS, and BG contributed to the study concept and design. All authors contributed to acquisition, analysis, or interpretation of data, and critically reviewed the manuscript for important intellectual content. CAAMF, HR, SG, MPN, and BG drafted the manuscript and conducted the statistical analysis. HR, JPK, and BG obtained funding for the study. RC, ALP, FL, MAS, CCL MCGO, and RMRP provided administrative, technical, or material support. MCGO, HR, and BG supervised the study. CAAMF and BG had full access to all of the data in the study and take responsibility for the integrity of the data and the accuracy of the data analysis.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Bruno Gualano.

Ethics declarations

Competing interests

The authors declare no competing interests.

Additional information

Publisher’s note Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

In memorian: Rosa M. R. Pereira.

Supplementary information

Rights and permissions

Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Merege-Filho, C.A.A., Gil, S.S., Kirwan, J.P. et al. Exercise modifies hypothalamic connectivity and brain functional networks in women after bariatric surgery: a randomized clinical trial. Int J Obes 47, 165–174 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41366-022-01251-8

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41366-022-01251-8

Search

Advanced search

Quick links