Research shows that obese patients are more prone to gallstones. This is because when a person's weight exceeds 50% of their ideal weight, the risk of clinically symptomatic cholelithiasis increases by up to 6 times. So why are obese individuals more susceptible to gallstones than normal individuals?
Causes of Gallstones in Obesity:
1. Obese patients often have increased appetite and consume excessive cholesterol, leading to elevated blood cholesterol levels and cholesterol oversaturation in bile.
2. Obese patients often have endocrine disorders and frequently exhibit hyperinsulinemia, which promotes cholesterol synthesis.
3. Disrupted fat metabolism. Excessive calorie intake not only leads to fat synthesis, but also cholesterol synthesis. Excessive cholesterol intake and synthesis results in cholesterol oversaturation in bile, favoring the formation of gallstones.
Treatment Methods:
The key to treating gallstones in obese patients is to address obesity. Only by reducing cholesterol and fat content in the body can a foundation be laid for treating gallstones and preventing the occurrence of other diseases.
1. Caloric restriction
Restricting calorie and cholesterol intake (e.g. high sugar, high fat, beer, etc.) to create a caloric deficit.
2. Increasing physical activity
Promoting calorie expenditure: the amount of exercise should be determined based on the presence of complications, coexisting diseases, and individual differences of the patient.
3. Medication assistance
Gallstone tablets are preferred for treating stones and have certain weight loss effects. In addition, remedies such as cassia seed, oriental water plantain, hawthorn, salvia, and bai jin wan (alum, curcuma) also have weight loss effects and can be used.
For obese patients, the thickening of the abdominal wall, elevation of the diaphragm, decreased gas exchange, and increased cardiac burden increase the difficulty and risk of surgical treatment for gallstones. Therefore, the most ideal method for treating gallstones in obese individuals is natural stone elimination.
