Man dies after weight-loss surgery in attempt to impress girlfriend’s parents
Li had long struggled with severe weight issues and difficulty managing his eating patterns.
NURSYAHMINA ZAINAL
SHAH ALAM - A 36-year-old man in China reportedly died after undergoing gastric bypass surgery allegedly in an effort to make a good impression on his girlfriend’s parents.
The man, identified by the pseudonym Li Jiang from Xinxiang in Henan province, had been preparing to meet them as the couple looked toward marriage.
Li had long struggled with severe weight issues and difficulty managing his eating patterns.
Standing at 174cm and weighing over 134kg, he had recently begun a promising relationship and both families were preparing to meet.
“Things were going well, so he wanted to slim down before meeting the parents.
“He did it because he was preparing for marriage,” said his older brother.
Li was admitted to Ninth People’s Hospital in Zhengzhou on Sept 30 to undergo gastric bypass surgery.
The operation was completed on Oct 2, after which he was placed in the intensive care unit (ICU) before being transferred to a general ward the next day.
However, his health suddenly declined on Oct 4.
The medical staff discovered that he had stopped breathing at around 6.40am, which prompted an emergency transfer back to the ICU.
Despite urgent treatment, he died on Oct 5 from respiratory failure.
According to hospital records, Li had experienced continuous weight gain over the previous year, accompanied by loud snoring during sleep.
Li had been admitted with metabolic syndrome and was also diagnosed with hypertension and fatty liver disease.
His grieving family questioned whether doctors had properly evaluated his overall condition before approving the surgery.
They also expressed concern about the hospital’s management of potential complications and whether emergency care was provided quickly enough.
In a statement to Jimu News, the hospital said it had determined that Li met the clear clinical criteria required for surgery and maintained that the medical team responded immediately when complications arose.
On Oct 10, both the family and the hospital jointly requested the local Health Commission to conduct an autopsy to determine the exact cause of death.
“The final autopsy report will serve as the most authoritative basis for determining the cause of death,” the hospital stated, adding that it would assume full responsibility according to the findings and applicable regulations.
The incident later quickly sparked intense discussion across mainland Chinese social media.
“There is always a risk of death with this kind of surgery. Doctors can try their best, but there are no guarantees,” one user commented.
Another wrote, “Gastric sleeve surgery is still surgery, it carries risks. If you can lose weight naturally, do that instead.”
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