Dr Okezie Emenike, a medical doctor with a private hospital in Asokoro, Abuja, said obesity was the highest risk factor to the development of gall bladder stones.
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Disease is major cause of gall bladder stones
He attributed the disease to genetics, diet and obesity, saying high levels of estrogen and ethnic background were other factors that could also contribute to gallstones development.
Obesity major cause of gall bladder stones
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Emenike said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Tuesday.
He explained that gallstones were pieces of solid particles that form in the gallbladder, noting that the stones develop because of cholesterol and pigments in the bile which formed hard particles.
According to him, most people have gallstones without knowing and that it is common among women and older persons.
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The doctor said some medications such as cholesterol-lowering drugs could also predispose an individual to gallstones.
He also said that diabetes, eating diet high in fiber, as well as rapid weight lose posed risk to developing gall bladder stones.
He added that "liver cirrhosis is another risk factor, as well as being between the age of 60 years and above.
"Being a female and pregnant are other causes of developing gallstones too, as well as taking medications with high estrogen content.’’
The medic then urged persons susceptible to gallstones to make lifestyle changes such as eating healthy balanced diet and drinking lots of water to keep the body hydrated.
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Emenike also urged individuals who wanted to lose weight to do so gradually, stressing that it was a measure to prevent gallstones.
He, however, suggested surgery to treat gall bladder stones and also recommended the use of drugs to dissolve gallstones caused by cholesterol.
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