Gallstones form when bile hardens into pieces of stone-like material. Bile is a liquid stored in the gallbladder and is used to digest fats.

Scientists believe that cholesterol gallstones form either when bile contains too much cholesterol or too much bilirubin, or when the gallbladder does not empty its bile regularly. Gallstones can form as one stone or as many small ones. They can be as small as a grain of sand or as large as a golf ball.

Some common symptoms of gallstones include:

• Severe pain in the upper abdomen that increases rapidly and lasts from 30 minutes to several hours
• Pain under the right shoulder or in the right shoulder blade
• Nausea or vomiting
• Indigestion after eating high-fat foods or fatty meals
• Belching, gas and indigestion

Some people have “silent” gallstones in which they experience no symptoms. These stones typically go undetected and do not usually need treatment. Symptomatic gallstones, on the other hand, usually cause abdominal or back pain and can interfere with gallbladder, liver and pancreas function, occasionally causing serious health problems. These stones are usually treated through surgery. 

Gallstones and diseases of the gallbladder can cause serious problems. Therefore, if you suspect you have them, you must see your doctor.

Rapid weight-loss dieting increases your risk of getting gallstones and can also lead to silent gallstones becoming symptomatic. Studies have shown that people who lose more than three pounds per week have a greater risk of developing gallstones than those who lose weight more slowly. Studies have also shown that 10-25 percent of people on very low calorie diets, where calories are restricted to 800 or less a day, develop gallstones.

Following a diet too low in fat, or going for long periods without food (skipping breakfast, for example) may also decrease gallbladder contractions. When the gallbladder does not contract often enough, the bile is not emptied out and gallstones may form.

Yoyo dieting can also increase the risk of gallstones. If you cycle through rapid weight gains and losses, especially of more than 10 pounds, you have a higher risk of getting gallstones than if you lose weight steadily and then maintain that weight loss.

As well as dieting, obesity and overweight also increase the risk of getting gallstones, especially for females. Seem like a catch-22 situation? Not really. Losing weight gradually and sensibly will reduce your risk for gallstones from obesity and ensure you don’t increase your risk by rapid weight loss.

Along with other experts, CalorieKing.com recommends losing 1 to 2 pounds a week until you are at a healthy weight. After that, aim to maintain your weight through continued healthy living. A healthy weight-loss diet balances calories in (food) with calories out (exercise) so as to cause weight reduction. Your diet should include whole grains, lowfat protein and several servings of fruits and vegetables each day, as well as regular exercise. Diets high in fiber and calcium may also reduce the risk of gallstone development.

As well as maintaining a healthy weight, eating good fats is another way to reduce your risk of getting gallstones. A recent Harvard study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine showed that men who ate healthy fats on a daily basis were 18 percent less likely to develop gallstones than those who did not. The extensive study involved 46,000 men aged 40 to 75 and was conducted over 14 years.

Before you load up your plate with fried eggs and bacon though, remember that “good” fats do not include saturated or trans fats. For sources of good fats, choose foods such as olives, olive oil, canola oil, most nuts, avocados, and fish.

It’s also important to limit fat intake to less than 30% of your daily calories. Men in the study who benefited from healthy fats consumed around 7 percent of their total calories from healthy fat.

• Gallstones form in the gallbladder causing discomfort and, occasionally, serious health problems
• Obesity increases the risk of gallstones
• Rapid weight loss and yoyo dieting increase the risk of gallstones
• Eating healthy fats reduces the risk of gallstones
• A healthy weight reduces the risk of gallstones