RESULTS: The study will determine the short and intermediate-term benefits of a preoperative exercise intervention on general fitness and exercise capacity as well as weight loss post-bariatric surgery. It is an important opportunity for collaboration between a multidisciplinary health care team and a medically-certified community fitness centre. Currently there are approximately 200 patients undergoing public bariatric surgery annually in Manitoba. If this study demonstrates a benefit to preoperative exercise, the results will be used to support an application to Manitoba Health for routine implementation of a similar intervention for all patients awaiting publicly funded bariatric surgery. It will also be used to support an application for a larger multi-institutional study of preoperative exercise at several Canadian bariatric centres.