A recent study presented at the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS) 2025 Annual Scientific Meeting revealed that individuals with a higher body mass index (BMI) face a greater risk of complications after bariatric surgery, particularly those with a BMI of 50 or higher.

Researchers discovered that the rate of complications increased by an average of 5.56%, with serious incidents rising by 3.21% from the lowest to the highest BMI category. Individuals with a BMI of 50 or more were found to be at the highest risk of experiencing complications.

The study offers valuable insights into the risks associated with different BMI categories and pinpoints the BMI threshold at which the risk of morbidity and mortality significantly increases. Dr. John Scott, one of the study's co-authors, emphasized the importance of recognizing obesity as a risk factor in surgeries, particularly in bariatric procedures where risks are generally low.

The retrospective analysis involved a review of the Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program (MBSAQIP) database, focusing on patients with obesity (BMI 30 or higher) who underwent sleeve gastrectomy or Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgeries between 2020 and 2023. A total of 665,047 cases were included in the study.

Dr. Richard M. Peterson, President-elect of ASMBS and a Professor of Surgery at UT Health San Antonio, who was not part of the research team, highlighted the significance of the study's detailed findings in enhancing pre-operative counseling and improving surgical safety and patient outcomes.