What are gallstones?

We’ve all heard of gallstones, but what are they, why are they made and who do they affect?

What are gallstones?

When produced, gallstones live in the gallbladder, which stores bile for us between meals. This bile helps us absorb our food (especially fats). Gallstones are small, solid lumps that form. They can be made when the bile becomes hard and stone-like. Most of the time, they cause no symptoms and people are unaware they have them.

Facts and Figures

• Gallstones affect 10 – 15 out of 100 people.
• Women are three times more likely to have gallstones than men.
• Women who have had children and have an unhealthy, high body weight are more likely to develop gallstones.
• You are more likely to develop gallstones if you have Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), like Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis and microscopic colitis.
• You are more likely to develop gallstones if you have undergone a period of fast weight loss (a weight loss of more than 1.5 kg per week).
• The risk of developing gallstone symptoms increases with age.
• Nearly a quarter of females (and a smaller proportion of men) suffer symptoms from gallstones by the age of 60.
• The risk of developing gallstones is higher with increasing waist measurement, even among people who have a healthy weight.

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