Preoperative low-energy diets may reduce complications for overweight patients undergoing non-bariatric surgery.

• Patients lost an average of 4.5 kg during a 3-week low-energy diet.
• Pooled analysis shows a 19% relative risk reduction in postoperative morbidity with low-energy diets.

Further validation through a larger trial is needed to enhance recruitment and follow-up.

• Adherence to the diet was high at 81.7%, indicating patient feasibility.