Sweigert PJ, Chen C, Fahmy JN, et al. - Researchers assessed patients with non-metastatic rectal adenocarcinoma who underwent elective proctectomy from the ACS NSQIP in order to evaluate obesity as a risk factor for postoperative complications following proctectomy. They identified 2,241 patients; of these, 33.4% had a normal BMI, 33.5% were overweight, 21.1% were obese, and 12.0% were morbidly obese. Observations revealed an independent association of morbid obesity with increased risk of morbidity following proctectomy for cancer. Increased risk of superficial surgical site infection was observed with increasing BMI class. Increased BMI was not identified to be associated with anastomotic leak.