The Belief That “Removing the Gallbladder Helps You Lose Weight” Has No Basis [Health Talk]

[Financial News] The claim that “removing the gallbladder helps you lose weight” is not true. Kwang-hyun Kim, a surgical department chief at Incheon Sejong Hospital, advised people not to be misled by unfounded myths surrounding cholecystectomy.
He stated, “It is easy to assume that removing the gallbladder will lead to weight loss because fat will not be digested properly. However, even after the gallbladder is removed, people do not lose the ability to digest fat or necessarily experience continued weight loss. Many patients who undergo cholecystectomy for gallstone disease, gallbladder polyps, or acute cholecystitis instead feel that they have gained weight, contrary to what they expected.”

The gallbladder does not produce bile. It stores bile made by the liver and releases it into the intestine when needed. Even after the gallbladder is removed, the liver continues to produce bile, which travels to the intestine through the bile duct. This is why most people can continue eating and digesting food normally after cholecystectomy.
Some patients may temporarily experience symptoms such as indigestion or loose stools, but many gradually adapt to eating over time. They may even gain weight as they begin eating more than they did before surgery. Before surgery, patients who repeatedly experienced abdominal pain or discomfort after meals due to gallstones or cholecystitis may instinctively have reduced their food intake and avoided fatty foods. After surgery, as symptoms caused by gallbladder disease subside, they may eat more than before or resume eating a wider variety of foods. If their activity levels or eating habits also change during this process, their weight may increase.
Chief Kim explained, “Not every patient gains weight. Weight is affected by various factors, including food intake, activity level, age, and overall health. It is not the removal of the gallbladder itself that causes weight gain; changes in eating habits and lifestyle before and after surgery may affect body weight.”

The claim that “anyone with gallstones must undergo surgery” is also an unfounded myth. The discovery of gallstones or gallbladder polyps does not mean that every patient needs surgery. Doctors determine the treatment approach by comprehensively assessing the presence and severity of symptoms, the condition of the gallbladder and bile ducts, and whether inflammation is present. If surgery is deemed necessary, options such as laparoscopic cholecystectomy or single-incision cholecystectomy may be considered based on the patient’s condition.
Incheon Sejong Hospital operates a “one-stop cholecystectomy care system” to make treatment more convenient for patients with gallbladder disease. The system coordinates the entire treatment process, from diagnosis and testing to the surgical decision, admission, and discharge. In particular, it links consultations, examinations, and preoperative preparations to reduce the inconvenience of patients having to visit the hospital multiple times because each stage of care is handled separately.
When surgery is scheduled, the hospital performs either laparoscopic or single-incision cholecystectomy depending on the patient’s condition and guides the patient through the process from preoperative preparation and admission to discharge and outpatient follow-up.
Chief Kim said, “Patients considering surgery for gallbladder disease should not rely on unfounded myths. If you have symptoms, visit a specialized medical institution and consult a specialist to determine whether surgery is necessary for your condition, which method is appropriate, and how the process will proceed from diagnosis through postoperative care. You should then decide on the optimal treatment method.”
 

[email protected] Medical Specialist Jeong Myeong-jin Reporter