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How To Lose Weight After Gallbladder Removal? – Our Safety Tips 2024

Updated on - Written by
Medically reviewed by Victor Nguyen, PharmD.

How to Lose Weight After Gallbladder Surgery
While the immediate effect after removing the gallbladder may be weight loss, the procedure can lead to weight gain in the long term. Photo: Shutterstock & Team Design

Cholecystectomy or gallbladder removal is a standard surgical procedure. The gallbladder forms part of the digestive system, and its removal typically leads to initial weight loss. 

After gallbladder surgery, you may experience fluctuations in your body weight. However, once the body acclimates to the loss of the gallbladder, weight gain can typically occur. Find out if Supplements and CBD work for weight loss

This article looks at the reasons why our weight fluctuates after gallbladder removal and ways to lose weight. We will also look at other ways in which cholecystectomy can affect your health. 

While the immediate effect after removing the gallbladder may be weight loss, the procedure can lead to weight gain in the long term. Gaining weight after cholecystectomy,[1] presents a significant problem medically.

How To Lose Weight After Gallbladder Removal Surgery?

The way to lose fat after gallbladder removal surgery is similar to losing weight before surgery. A healthy, well-balanced eating routine and regular physical activity help to maintain a healthy weight. 

Here are some diet tips for post-gallbladder surgery:

  • Eat a healthy, well-balanced diet that is low in fat
  • Consume plenty of fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and low-fat dairy
  • Avoid empty calories from sugars and fats, such as those in snacks and sweetened beverages
  • Engage in regular physical activity
  • Request a written health and support plan from your medical practitioner or dietitian

The gallbladder stores bile, which is produced by the liver and breaks down fats for digestion. 

Although the gallbladder is an organ, it isn’t essential. After its removal, the liver still produces bile, which now continuously drips into the digestive system.

The gallbladder stores bile, which is produced by the liver and breaks down fats for digestion. 

Although the gallbladder is an organ, it isn’t essential. After its removal, the liver still produces bile, which now continuously drips into the digestive system. 

Initial Weight Loss After The Gallbladder Removal Surgery

Immediately after gallbladder surgery, your doctor may advise you on ways to recover. During this time, you may weigh less in the short term because of fewer calories for several reasons; you might:

  • Consume smaller portions. Your doctor will probably advise you to eat smaller portions more frequently instead of one large meal for a few weeks after surgery to help you process food.
  • Eat a bland diet. You may find certain foods or rich foods with spices that may give you an upset stomach, so avoid these if you can. 
  • Avoid food with high-fat content. Your body needs a little time to adjust when digesting fatty foods after surgery. For this reason, you should avoid high-fat foods, typically high in calories, for the first few weeks.
  • Suffer from side effects. Patients may experience heartburn, indigestion, and flatulence,[2] after gallbladder surgery, which can affect their appetite and lead to initial weight loss.
  • Experience a long recovery process. Usually, gallbladder removal is performed via laparoscopic surgery. However, if a person has had traditional surgery, this process requires a longer recovery time and experiences more discomfort. 

Diet After Gallbladder Removal

Your body needs time to adjust to the absence of a gallbladder, and eating sensible foods can help your body adjust more efficiently and eliminate discomfort for you.

Cut down on fat

Studies show that weight gain after cholecystectomy was caused by an increase in fat consumption,[1]. Therefore, your medical practitioner or dietitian may recommend that you follow a personal low-fat eating plan that is low in calories after surgery. 

Try to adapt to a healthy diet avoiding greasy and fatty foods for a few months while your body adjusts to new changes in the way bile is released, aiding digestion. 

If you find it challenging to limit fat intake, you can try to find low-fat or non-fat versions of the food you like to eat, such as dark chocolate instead of milk chocolate or semi-skimmed milk instead of full-fat dairy. 

Once your body has adapted, you can return to your regular diet, although your doctor may ask you to follow a healthy, well-balanced diet to avoid future complications.

Watch dietary fiber intake

Watch dietary fiber intake
You should limit high-fiber foods immediately after surgery, such as whole grains, whole wheat, and cereals containing bran. Photo: Shutterstock

While eating green vegetables and high-fiber grains is ideal for maintaining weight in the long term, try to limit them immediately after surgery. High-fiber foods after gallbladder removal can cause bloating, abdominal pain and discomfort, and enhance diarrhea. 

Try to limit high-fiber foods immediately after surgery, such as whole grains, whole wheat, and cereals containing bran.

Your doctor may advise you to start with small portions gradually increasing when your body has adapted sufficiently. Other healthy foods high in fiber include beans, cauliflower, broccoli, and nuts. 

Limit caffeine consumption

Caffeine increases gastric acid production,[3] in the stomach, which can aggravate symptoms typically experienced from cholecystectomy, such as bloating and abdominal pain.

Try to avoid too much caffeine from coffee, tea, or soft drinks. Similar to limiting fat and fiber intake, you can gradually increase the amount of caffeine in your diet as your body adjusts. 

Eat small portions regularly

After removing your gallbladder, the body can’t store bile, and your liver doesn’t produce enough to digest large quantities of food in one go. Increase the number of smaller meals throughout the day, including lean meats, fruits, and vegetables. 

Other Ways To Lose Weight

After patient discharge, you’ll likely receive written advice from your doctor on changing your eating habits. There are other options to lose weight after surgery, some are included here.

Implement a daily workout

Implement a daily workout
Try to incorporate some physical activity into your daily routine but don’t begin immediately after surgery or engage in high-demanding activities. Photo: Shutterstock

Try to incorporate some physical activity into your daily routine but don’t begin immediately after surgery or engage in high-demanding activities. Begin with some brisk walking, slowly increasing the intensity of exercise week by week.

Consult dietary advice

Speaking to a medical practitioner or dietitian shortly after surgery can aid you in losing weight. Studies show that dietary consultation,[1] services help to improve weight loss goals. 

If you are given a personal diet and exercise plan with weight loss apps after having your gallbladder removed, make sure you follow it. You can also request a written post-surgery diet and exercise plan before leaving the hospital site.

Gallbladder Removal Surgery

The reason for gallbladder removal surgery can be due to many factors,[4], including gallstones, gallbladder polyps, and gallbladder disease, which is the inflammation of the gallbladder. 

Gallstones

Gallstones can usually be small, made of cholesterol, and can cause inflammation, abdominal pain, and gallbladder infection. According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), gallstones affect 10 to 15% of the adult population in the U.S.,[5] 

Pancreatitis can occur when gallstones block the ducts in the gallbladder and between the liver and pancreas. 

Gallstones generally don’t present with symptoms and only need to be medically treated when a person experiences signs, such as persistent pain or a high fever.

(Note that gallstones are not to be confused with bladder stones, which occur when urine crystallizes forming hard masses.)

Cholecystitis

Cholecystitis or gallbladder disease is inflammation of the gallbladder and is a typical reason for surgery.

Removing the gallbladder is typically performed laparoscopically. This procedure requires a minimum incision, is generally well-tolerated with patients, and with fast recovery times.

In the short term, patients can experience typical symptoms after cholecystectomy, such as diarrhea, abdominal pain, and bloating. But overall, it can lead to weight gain with increased BMI and gastritis,[6]

Why Do I Gain Weight After Gallbladder Removal?

The procedure changes your digestive system, and your body needs time to adjust to this. You may need to alter your lifestyle and consume a low-fat diet after gallbladder surgery.

Although temporary weight loss occurs initially, if you have had your gallbladder removed, you may ultimately put on weight due to the following reasons.

Altered metabolism

After surgery, your body adjusts the digestive system and its processing of food, especially fatty foods. Your liver continues to produce bile, but it drips continuously into the small intestine instead of being stored. 

For this reason, your body is unable to digest fats and sugar productively. The energy you consume in meals can end up stored as body fat. 

Inflammation post-surgery

After surgery, some patients can experience inflammation in the body. Any inflammation alters hormones and disrupts weight regulation,[7] and your general health. 

Inflammation and an increased BMI can lead to insulin resistance and fat accumulation,[8] in the liver [H], which can cause weight gain. 

What Happens To Fat When You Have No Gallbladder?

When you eat, your gallbladder releases bile into the small intestine, where it breaks down food and digests fat. In the absence of a gallbladder, bile has nowhere to collect; therefore, it slowly drips directly into the small intestine. 

However, large quantities of greasy, high-fat, or high-fiber foods can become harder to digest, so you may experience symptoms such as flatulence, heartburn, and diarrhea,[9]

Conclusion

  • Gallstones and inflammation of the gallbladder are common reasons for cholecystectomy.
  • The gallbladder is an organ that stores bile that helps the liver digest food. After cholecystectomy, our body still produces bile which drips into the digestive system.
  • While a person can live without a gallbladder, you’ll likely need to make some changes to your eating habits, diet, and lifestyle to avoid any complications. 
  • You may weigh less initially post-surgery, but you can add weight if you don’t consume a healthy reduced-fat diet and exercise regularly. 
  • Maintain weight loss by eating small portions of low-fat meals regularly throughout the day.

+ 9 sources

Health Canal avoids using tertiary references. We have strict sourcing guidelines and rely on peer-reviewed studies, academic researches from medical associations and institutions. To ensure the accuracy of articles in Health Canal, you can read more about the editorial process here

  1. Yazdankhah Kenary, A., Yaghoobi Notash, A., Nazari, M., Yaghoobi Notash, A., Borjian, A., Afshin, N., Khashayar, P., Ahmadi Amoli, H. and Morteza, A. (2012). Measuring the rate of weight gain and the influential role of diet in patients undergoing elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy: a 6-month follow-up study. International Journal of Food Sciences and Nutrition, [online] 63(6), pp.645–648. Available at: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22229881/.
  2. ‌Zackria R;Lopez RA (2020). Postcholecystectomy Syndrome. [online] . Available at: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30969724/.
  3. Liszt, K.I., Ley, J.P., Lieder, B., Behrens, M., Stöger, V., Reiner, A., Hochkogler, C.M., Köck, E., Marchiori, A., Hans, J., Widder, S., Krammer, G., Sanger, G.J., Somoza, M.M., Meyerhof, W. and Somoza, V. (2017). Caffeine induces gastric acid secretion via bitter taste signaling in gastric parietal cells. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, [online] 114(30), pp.E6260–E6269. Available at: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28696284/.
  4. Thangavelu, A., Rosenbaum, S. and Thangavelu, D. (2018). Timing of Cholecystectomy in Acute Cholecystitis. The Journal of Emergency Medicine, [online] 54(6), pp.892–897. Available at: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29752150/.
  5. ‌National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (2021). Definition & Facts for Gallstones | NIDDK. [online] National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Available at: https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/digestive-diseases/gallstones/definition-facts#:~:text=Gallstones%20are%20very%20common%2C%20affecting,be%20treated%2C%20usually%20with%20surgery.
  6. ‌Altomare, D.F., Rotelli, M.T. and Palasciano, N. (2019). Diet After Cholecystectomy. Current Medicinal Chemistry, [online] 26(19), pp.3662–3665. Available at: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28521679/.
  7. ‌Tuomisto, K., Jousilahti, P., Havulinna, A.S., Borodulin, K., Männistö, S. and Salomaa, V. (2019). Role of inflammation markers in the prediction of weight gain and development of obesity in adults – A prospective study. Metabolism Open, [online] 3, p.100016. Available at: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32812925/.
  8. ‌Hardy, O.T., Czech, M.P. and Corvera, S. (2012). What causes the insulin resistance underlying obesity? Current Opinion in Endocrinology & Diabetes and Obesity, [online] 19(2), pp.81–87. Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4038351/.
  9. ‌Zackria R;Lopez RA (2020). Postcholecystectomy Syndrome. [online] . Available at: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30969724/.

Medically reviewed by:

Victor Nguyen

Christina Cheung holds a Master’s of Pharmacy from the University of Bath (UK) and is a freelance writer specializing in medicine and science. With over a decade of experience as a community and hospital pharmacist both in the UK and abroad, she has dealt first-hand with patients facing medical difficulties and decisions. She now writes to promote medical health and wellness to better the community. Christina also has a published science blog with a passion for inspiring and encouraging medicine and science for kids and students. While not writing, she can be found strolling through the country parks with her family and pet dog.

Medically reviewed by:

Victor Nguyen

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