Obesity and Gallstones

One of the health risks that have been associated with obesity is Gallstones. For those who are obese it is important that you get the obesity facts. Obesity prevention is key.What is obesity?When an excessive amount of adipose tissue or body fat is present in relation to lean body mass the condition is known as obesity. If an individual weights 30% or more than his or her normal body weight as determined by a height to weight ratio or the BMI (body mass index), the individual is defined as obese.

Causes of obesity: Consumption of excess calories since childhood much more than a persons’ BMR (basal metabolic rate) leads to obesity. Obesity can also be inherited due to genetic transference. There are many obesity symptoms including heart problems.

What are Gallstones? Gallstones are usually cholesterol deposited clusters of solid material that forms in the gall bladder. The gall bladder is an internal digestive organ of the human body that holds the bile juice secreted by the liver and as required secretes it to the stomach when food is available to help in the process of digestion. These gallstones are formed as a single large stone of even a number of small ones. Their size can be as tiny as a speck of sand and at the same time can even take up the size of a golf ball.

Symptoms of gall stones: Some of the general symptoms of gall stones are: Acute upper abdominal pain, that begins suddenly and continues for up to many hours later. You may experience severe pain under the right or left shoulder blade. You may also have frequent vomiting spells. If you suffer from indigestion after consuming fat rich foods n a continuous basis then probability exists that you are suffering from gall stones.

What is the relation between obesity and gallstones? Gallstones are more likely to form in individuals who are obese and less likely to form in persons of normal healthy weight. Formation of gallstones in obese women has higher probability than men. Studies have shown that cholesterol levels are elevated in obese persons. This result in bile production and this is a strong source of excess cholesterol that is unable to be dissolved. From this gallstones are usually formed. Also obese persons often times have gallbladders that will never empty in a normal manner if at all.

Some studies have also shown that persons with excess stomach fat are more than likely to develop gallstones than persons who have excess fat on their hip area. When your BMI goes up your chances of developing gallstones goes up too. Women whose BMI is over 32 are three times more likely to end up having gallstones than those who have a BMI of 25.