As most people know, there are significant health benefits to be gained from losing excess pounds. For example many people can reduce high blood pressure and cholesterol levels through weight loss. Overweight people are at greater risk of developing gallstones that people of average weight. However, people who are considering a diet program requiring very low intake of calories each day should be aware that during rapid or substantial weight loss, a person's risk of developing gallstones is increased.
Gallstones are clumps of solid material that form in the gallbladder.
They may occur as a single, large stone or many small ones. Gallstones are a mixture of compounds, but typically they are mostly cholesterol. One in ten Americans has gallstones. However, most people with gallstones don't know they have them and experience no symptoms. Painless gallstones are called silent gallstones .