title: Hepatobiliary effects of obesity and weight-reducing surgery.
abstract: Obesity clearly increases the risk of gallstone formation. The role of nucleating factors may be most decisive in transforming merely saturated bile into a gallstone-forming solution. Weight loss in the short run may promote stone formation but in the long run may be beneficial if it is maintained. UDCA appears to be a promising prophylactic agent against gallstone formation during weight loss regardless of whether it is achieved by diet alone, by jejunoileal bypass, or by gastric restriction surgery.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Highland Hospital of Rochester, NY 14620.
authors.forename: W W
authors.initials: WW
authors.lastname: Faloon
mesh_terms: D001659:Biliary Tract / Q000473:pathology; D002769:Cholelithiasis / Q000209:etiology*; D005234:Fatty Liver / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D007581:Jejunoileal Bypass / Q000009:adverse effects*; D015187:Lipectomy / Q000009:adverse effects; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications* / Q000601:surgery