Obesity Leads to an Increased Risk of Cholecystitis

Cholecystitis is an inflammation of the gallbladder, often a result of a blocked or obstructed bile duct.

Obesity can increase your risk for this condition, and in adolescents cases of it are attributed to obesity half of the time.

Most commonly the bile duct obstruction that leads to cholecystitis is caused by a gallstone.

It can also be caused by infection or trauma, such as from a car accident.

Those who are obese have an increased risk for gallstones, which in turn makes them at greater risk for cholecystitis.

Cholecystitis can also be a chronic condition, meaning it is continually present, and occurs in this form when the gallbladder remains swollen and results in thick, hard walls to the gallbladder.

The gallbladder is a pear-shaped organ that is responsible for storing bile:

• A substance produced by the liver that helps digest fat
• And also carries away waste products from the liver.

You can live without a gallbladder, and many people have had theirs removed when it has caused them problems.

Acid within your gallbladder normally hinders the formation of cholesterol gallstones (the most common form), but if you have high levels of cholesterol the acid many not be able to keep up and the stones may form.

If you can decrease your chances of developing gallstones, you can likely decrease your risk for cholecystitis.

Obesity increases your risk for gallstones, so it therefore also increases your risk for cholecystitis.

This is a great opportunity for you to decide that your health is important to you, and work to overcome obesity so you can avoid such conditions as cholecystitus.

If you are obese due to a calorie imbalance, you’ll find a great deal of support on this site.

A calorie imbalance means that you are consuming more calories than you are expending – meaning that you are eating more calories than your body needs.

Your body then turns these extra calories into fat and stores them.

• To maintain your weight your calories consumed need to equal your calories expended.
• To lose weight you need to expend more calories than you consume.

You can overcome obesity and this imbalance through two lifestyle changes:

• Diet and
• Exercise.

Create a meal plan that comprises low fat and low calorie foods that are high in nutrients.

You will want to focus on such foods as:

For the exercise component, you will want to work up to 30 minutes of exercise most days of the week.

Don’t be worried if you start out slow, a walk around the block to start is great.

Take the stairs instead of the elevator, or park at the back of the lot.

Wherever you start out, you can always build on that.

Now is the time to fight obesity and the diseases related to it, such as cholecystitis.

We’re here to help.

• Incorporate a proven, complete nutritional program into your daily life.
• Enhance your nutritional program with a complete mutivitamin supplement because no nutritional program is perfect.
• Use a behavior modification and motivational program that will help you stay on track with your nutritional plan.
• Exercise at home with your own:
  Treadmill

  Stairstepper

  Exercise bike

  Elliptical trainer

  Hand weights or

  An aerobic video.

• See what kinds of weight loss aids your health insurance covers such as:
  Hypnotism

  Gym membership discounts

  Nutritional counseling.

Even if you have had cholecystitis in the past; you can still overcome your weight issues.

It is never too late to start losing weight!

Will you make the decision to start losing weight right now?