A large cross-sectional study of more than 500,000 youth has found that those who are overweight or obese–especially girls–have more than 4 times the risk of gallbladder disease. Girls taking oral contraceptives had twice the risk. This association increased significantly as weight increased from moderately overweight to moderately or extremely obese. This correlation is likely the result of the bile becoming supersaturated with cholesterol, thus forming gallstones.
PositiveTip: Do everything you can to encourage youth to maintain a healthy weight through wise, balanced choices.