“I’ve been following a very low calorie diet for the past few months and have recently been experience pain in my abdomen. I was reading online that this could be gallstones, what should I do?”

The primary role of the gallbladder is to store bile, a chemical produced by the liver which helps break down fat in the foods we eat. When we eat a meal containing fat, the gallbladder contracts to release some of the stored bile to help digest the fat. If people consume a very low calorie diet (VLCD) this often means they are consuming miniscule amounts of fat, which means their gallbladder may not be contracting as often or as much and this can lead to the formation of gallstones.

I recommend you speak to your GP about the pain you are experiencing, as abdominal pain is a very general symptom and could be related to a number of medical conditions. Consuming a small amount of fat each day, equivalent to a teaspoon of oil, can help maintain healthy gallbladder function and reduce the risk of gallstones.

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