Arushi Bidhuri
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Being Obese Puts You At A Higher Risk Of Developing Gallstones
Did you know obesity was declared a 'global pandemic in its own right' by United Nations in 2020? Being obese or overweight is not healthy for your body. People who fall under the category are at a higher risk of several medical conditions including Covid-19, heart disease, diabetes, cancer, fatty liver, chronic kidney disease and more. Some of the other factors that trigger problems include diet, lack of exercise, and genetics. In fact, obesity can even lead to the formations of stones in your gallbladder and bile duct.
A study published in the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases found that people who are overweight are at a higher risk of gallstones. Being overweight or obese may increase your risk of developing gallstones, especially if you are a woman. As per the research, obese people have a greater level of cholesterol in their bile. Some studies have also shown that people who carry more weight around the waist are more likely to acquire gallstones than those who carry a lot of fat around their hips and thighs.
Body mass index (BMI), defined as weight in kilograms divided by height in centimetres squared, is a measure of body fat that applies to humans, with outcomes ranging from underweight to obese. Statistics show that more than 1.35 million are obese in India and are at a higher risk of cardiovascular diseases.
Nirmaljeet S Malhi, Director and Senior Consultant at AGI -- The Gastrociti, Ludhiana and Debasis Datta, Senior Consultant Gastroenterologist and Hepatologist Director, Fortis Hospitals, Kolkata and Overseas Advisor at Royal College of Physicians, London told IANS, "When cholesterol, calcium salts and bilirubin deposit in the gallbladder, they form gallstones. The gallbladder contains a digestive fluid called bile that is passed into the small intestine via the bile duct. In some cases, stones that form in the gallbladder slip into the bile duct and get trapped in it. These are known as common bile duct (CBD) stones."
He further explained that a bile duct stone can induce discomfort, clog the bile duct, and cause damage to the liver, pancreas, and digestive tract. Pain in the upper abdomen, back or shoulder, and around the ribcage is common in those who have bile duct stones. Some people may develop jaundice, which causes their skin and eyes to become yellow, as well as a fever and/or chills. A subgroup of individuals may develop pancreatitis as a result of CBD stones, which is a significant medical emergency that can result in mortality in 5-10% of instances if not treated promptly.
According to the expert, you cannot control gallbladder problems, but you can work on the factors that could lead to these issues. One of the effective ways is to lose the extra kilos to alleviate the risk of developing gallstones or bile duct stones. Here are some of the effective ways that can help you lose weight as laid down by the National Health Services (NHS):
(with inputs from IANS)