Gallstones and obesity: observations from 352 autopsied patients

Obesity has been considered a risk factor for gallstones, but the association remains controversial. To test this possible association we studied autopsy reports of 352 adult patients. These included 248 obese and 104 non-obese patients. The body mass index, defined as body weight in kg/m2, was used to assess and measure the degree of obesity and to divide patients into two groups: Group 1 (normal weight and mildly obese individuals) and Group 2 (moderately and severely obese individuals). The comparative frequency of gallstones in these two groups was statistically analyzed by the Mantel-Haenzel method with stratification for age, sex, and diabetes mellitus. No significant association between gallstones and obesity (p less than 0.2) was found.