About Weight Loss Surgery

Gallbladder Disease and Gallstones

One of the main health complications that may result from obesity is the formation of gallstones or gallbladder disease.

About 20 million Americans have gallstones. 20% of men have gallstones by the time they reach 75 years of age, while they occur in nearly 25% of women by age 60 and up to 50% by age 75.

Fatty diets and high cholesterol are the leading causes of the formation of gallstones and gallbladder disease.

What are gallstones and gallbladder disease?
The gallbladder is a sac-like organ that is found under the liver in the right side of the abdomen. It stores and concentrates the bile produced in the liver, which aids in the digestion of fats. Conditions that obstruct the flow of bile out of the gallbladder result in gallbladder disease.

Gallstones are small, hard pellets that form in the gallbladder. Gallstones can range from a few millimeters to several centimeters in diameter. Most gallstones are formed from cholesterol.

What are the symptoms of gallstones and gallbladder disease?
Approximately 90% of gallstones do not show any symptoms. On average, symptoms take about eight years to develop. Symptoms usually manifest after a stone of sufficient size (usually 8mm) blocks the cystic duct, which drains the gallbladder.

The most common symptom of gallbladder disease or of the presence of gallstones is a pain called biliary colic. The features of this symptom are:

Sharp pain in the upper right abdomen near the rib cage
Nausea or vomiting
Not relieved by over-the-counter pain relievers

Biliary colic typically disappears after a few hours. Pain may be precipitated by large or fatty meals and usually occurs several hours after eating.

What are the causes of gallstones and gallbladder disease?
Gallstones are related to poor diet and high fat intake.

Being overweight is a significant risk factor for gallstones. When one is overweight, the liver overproduces cholesterol and delivers it into the bile, which then becomes supersaturated.

Other risk factors include:

Pregnancy
Hormone Replacement Therapy
Diabetes
Prolonged Intravenous Feeding
Crohn's Disease

How can gallstones and gallbladder disease be prevented?
Some studies have suggested that certain dietary factors may be used as protective measures against gallstones and gallbladder disease.

For instance, low sugar intake, high monounsaturated fat intake, and high fiber intake can all contribute to lowering the risk for gallstone formation.

Another protective measure includes exercise. Exercising regularly and vigorously may reduce the risk of gallstones and gallbladder disease, even in people who are overweight. Studies are reporting a lower risk for gallstones in both men and women who exercise. Some evidence suggests that in addition to controlling weight, exercise helps reduce cholesterol levels in the biliary tract, which could help prevent gallstones.

What are the surgical procedures for gallstones and gallbladder disease?
The gallbladder is not an essential organ, and only surgical removal of the gallbladder guarantees that the patient will not suffer a recurrence of gallstones. The primary advantages of surgical removal of the gallbladder over non-surgical treatment are both the elimination of gallstones and also the prevention of gallbladder cancer.

Candidates for surgery often have one of the following conditions:

One very severe gallstone attack
Gallbladder inflammation
Inflammation of the pancreas

Learn more about obesity and the bariatric surgeries used to prevent weight gain and the health risks involved with it.