Wang P, et al. - Researchers sought to ascertain the association between body mass index (BMI) and short-term outcomes after esophagectomy via meta-analyzing 13 studies with 5480 patients. Outcomes revealed higher risks of overall complication, anastomotic leakage, and thromboembolic complications among obese patients. In subgroup analysis, obese patients from Western countries displayed a higher risk of wound infection, whereas obese Asians showed a higher tendency to experience pulmonary complications. Additionally, increased incidence of pulmonary complications and anastomotic leakage was observed in underweight patients. These findings suggest that for several complications after esophagectomy, obesity and underweight statuses were confirmed risk factors. However, overweight patients tended to experience greater benefit from surgery.