Impact of Obesity on Postoperative Recovery: An Epidemiological Study of Nutritional Practices and Surgical Complications

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Background: Obesity is a major risk factor for postoperative complications and prolonged hospital stays, yet preoperative nutritional management remains insufficiently integrated, particularly in resource-limited settings. Objectives: To evaluate the impact of obesity on postoperative complications and to analyze nutritional management practices in hospitals. Methods: An ambispective analytical observational study was conducted in two public hospitals in Setif, Algeria. It included 2205 surgical patients in 2024 (retrospective phase) and 234 patients between August and November 2025 (prospective phase) to complement missing data on nutritional management; 62 healthcare professionals were also surveyed. Data were collected from medical records and structured questionnaires, including sociodemographic characteristics, body mass index (BMI), postoperative complications, length of hospital stay, and nutritional practices. Results: Obesity prevalence was 54.1%. Postoperative complications occurred in 33.97% of obese patients versus 23.79% of non-obese patients (RR=1.43; 95% CI: 1.25–1.64; OR=1.65; 95% CI: 1.37–1.99). Obese patients had a longer mean hospital stay (7.99±3.75 days) compared to non-obese patients (7.14±3.36 days). Only 1% of patients received preoperative nutritional support, 98% of surgical departments lacked dietitians, and 98% of healthcare professionals had no training in clinical nutrition, while all expressed a need for further training. Conclusions: Obesity is significantly associated with increased postoperative complications and prolonged hospitalization. These findings emphasize the need to integrate nutritional assessment into routine care, strengthen professional training, and recruit dietitians to improve surgical outcomes and quality of care.