Abstract:
The escalating global prevalence of obesity constitutes a severe public health crisis. This situation necessitates immediate and effective interventions to mitigate the escalating problem.
Bariatric surgery is increasingly recognized for its role in addressing obesity and related health conditions, sparking significant research interest. This bibliometric study explores the evolution and emerging trends in bariatric surgery research across Asia, with a particular focus on China. We analyzed a total of 3,904 publications from Asia (with 1,221 from China) between 1980 and 2022. The research output showed a notable acceleration until the COVID-19 pandemic. China emerged as the leading contributor, outpacing other Asian countries from 2010 onwards. We identified an extensive network of collaboration among researchers, with a clear propensity towards robust intra-regional cooperation, likely due to geographic proximity and similar economic circumstances. Keyword analysis illuminated the emergence of ‘laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy’ and ‘non-alcoholic fatty liver disease’, indicating a shift in research focus within this field.
Despite observable regional disparities and a current gap in interregional collaborations, the accelerating research output and the improving quality of publications point to a promising future direction. Going forward, enhanced collaborative efforts across different countries and regions, along with better standardization of surgical practices, are recommended to further elevate the quality and global impact of Asia's, and more specifically, China's bariatric surgery research. This study serves as a valuable reference for future research directions and policy-making within this crucial field. It underscores the importance of this region's contributions and signals a call to action for fostering a more integrated and collaborative research environment to advance bariatric surgery science and practice.
Audience take-away:
- China’s rising significance is shown as it leads in Asian bariatric surgery research.
- Pandemic’s impact is seen in research volume decline post-COVID-19 period.
- Intra-regional research collaborations reflect economic and geographic similarities.
- ‘Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy’ remains central; ‘nonalcoholic fatty liver disease’ emerges as a new focus.
