Relationship between weight loss and gallbladder motility in obese women

Most studies have detected impairment of gallbladder motility among obese compared with nonobese people. However, the relationship between gallbladder motility and weight loss is not well defined. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between percent of weight loss and gallbladder motility during weight-reducing programs in obese women.

Thirty-four premenopausal obese women (body mass index >30 kg/m2) were included in the study. Following an overnight fast, fasting and postprandial 15-, 30-, 45-, 60-, 75-, 90-, 120- and 150th-minute gallbladder volumes and ejection fractions were evaluated with real-time ultrasonography as baseline and repeated after sixth months of weight-reducing programs. The lowest postprandial gallbladder volume was accepted as the residual volume. Gallstone formation was found in three (8.8%) patients during the study period, and these patients were dropped out. Thirty-one obese women were divided into three groups based on weight loss percent (group 1: 11 patients, weight loss <5%; group 2: 10 patients, weight loss 5-10%; group 3: 10 patients, weight loss >10%).

Fasting gallbladder volume and all ejection fractions were not significantly different between baseline and after sixth months in all groups (p>0.05). Residual volume was decreased after sixth months in only group 3 (p=0.005). Difference of fasting and residual volumes, and ejection fractions at baseline and after sixth months was similar in all groups (p>0.05). There was a positive correlation between weight loss and the change of residual volume (r=0.395, p=0.028).

Our findings suggest no relationship between degree of weight loss and ejection fraction. However, decreased residual volume and late-phase gallbladder volumes indicate gallbladder motility changing in patients who had >10% weight loss.