Loss of body weight and skeletal muscle negatively affect postoperative outcomes after major abdominal surgery in geriatric patients with cancer

•Geriatric patients are at greater risk for malnutrition.•Geriatric patients’ declined nutritional and functional status together with advanced age could increase the risk for postoperative complications.•Nutrition evaluation should be part of the preoperative workup, and timely interventions should be initiated if needed, especially in geriatric patients.