To analyze the status and number of metabolic and bariatric surgery (MBS) in China in 2023.

Based on the Chinese Obesity and Metabolic Surgery Database (COMES Database), we analyzed and estimated the types and numbers of MBS and the mortality rate between January 1 and December 31 in 2023, and the numbers of bariatric surgeons and case managers of each hospital. This study did not include data from the Hong Kong SAR, Macao SAR, and Taiwan region of China.

420 hospitals were included in this study, covering 31 provinces (autonomous regions and municipalities) and 173 cities, with a total estimated 37 249 cases. It was also estimated that there were 850 hospitals in the country, with 1 250 bariatric surgeons and 600 case managers involved in MBS. The top three most performed MBS were sleeve gastrectomy (SG, 30 352 cases, 81.5%), one-anastomosis gastric bypass (OAGB, 1 228 cases, 3.3%), Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB, 901 cases, 2.4%). Nine (0.02%) deaths were reported.

The number of MBS keep increasing in 2023. The most performed procedures were SG, OAGB and RYGB. It is important to pay attention to the trends of various procedures, strengthen clinical and research collaborations among centers, and promote standardization and quality improvement of MBS. We should focus on the obesity-related humanities, patient education, policy implementation, and international collaborations. This will enhance our influence and competitiveness in MBS globally and better equip us to address the obesity pandemic.