Auto Amazon Links: No products found. Blocked by captcha.
Specialist doctors have called for further investigation into a potential connection between weight-loss injections and the rising number of gallbladder removals. Recent data from NHS England revealed that gallbladder surgeries reached their highest level in a decade during the 2024-25 period.
Ahmed Ahmed, president of the British Obesity and Metabolic Specialist Society and a consultant surgeon, noted an increasing number of patients undergoing gallbladder operations who report having used weight loss injections. He highlighted the uncertainty around whether the injections themselves cause gallstones or if the rapid weight loss triggered by these treatments leads to gallstone formation, emphasizing the need for more research to clarify the relationship.
Gallstones, which are hard deposits made of cholesterol and bile, are a recognized common side effect of weight-loss injections, according to patient information leaflets. The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) recently updated its advice on GLP-1 medications such as Wegovy, addressing the risk of acute pancreatitis, a serious inflammation frequently associated with gallstones. Pharmaceutical companies producing weight-loss drugs like Mounjaro, Wegovy, and Saxenda have stressed that patient safety remains their priority and that they actively monitor adverse reaction reports.
Recent estimates from University College London indicate that roughly 1.6 million adults in the UK have used weight-loss injections over the past year, mostly prescribed privately rather than through the NHS. While many users report no complications, some individuals like mother-of-five Sue Peacock from Merseyside have experienced serious health issues. After beginning treatment with Mounjaro, Peacock developed gallstones and pancreatitis, which led to a dramatic deterioration of her health. She described the experience as terrifying and life-changing, affecting not only her physical well-being but also causing lasting anxiety for her and her family.
Since the introduction of these drugs in the UK—Wegovy and Saxenda in 2021, followed by Mounjaro in 2023—there has been a marked increase in gallbladder removals. NHS England recorded 80,196 such surgeries in 2024-25, up from 69,745 the previous year, marking a 15% rise and the highest total in ten years. Medical literature confirms that rapid weight loss, such as that induced by these injections, can contribute to the formation of gallstones, further underscoring the importance of ongoing monitoring and investigation into this emerging trend
Read the full article from The BBC here: Read More
Auto Amazon Links: No products found. Blocked by captcha.