Views from the Shore
Like a lot of people lately, I’ve been hearing more and more about GLP-1 medications. Friends mention them, commercials talk about them, and stories about dramatic weight loss seem to be everywhere. I’ll be honest, I’ve even thought about it myself. Losing 15 or 20 pounds without the usual struggle sounds pretty appealing.
But as someone who works around healthcare, I’ve also learned that whenever something sounds like a miracle solution, it’s worth taking a closer look. Recently I spoke with Dr. Lisa Iucci, a surgeon with Premier Surgical Network in Egg Harbor Township, about a potential complication that doesn’t get talked about quite as much, gallstones.
The connection surprised me at first. GLP-1 medications help people lose weight, so how does the gallbladder enter the conversation?
According to Dr. Iucci, it has less to do with the medication itself and more to do with what happens in the body during rapid weight loss. She explained that when people lose weight quickly, the liver processes and releases cholesterol at a faster rate. That cholesterol ends up in bile, the digestive fluid stored in the gallbladder. Over time, it can crystallize and form gallstones.
Interestingly, this isn’t a brand-new issue. Doctors noticed the same thing years ago when bariatric weight loss surgery became more common. Rapid weight loss, no matter how it happens, can sometimes lead to gallstone formation.
Most of the time gallstones don’t cause symptoms, but when they do, people know it. A gallbladder attack typically causes pain under the right rib cage, what doctors call the right upper quadrant of the abdomen. It often happens after eating fatty foods, when the gallbladder squeezes to release bile to help digest the meal. If stones are present, that squeezing can trigger pain that may last for several hours.
In more serious cases, a small stone can block the duct that drains the gallbladder, potentially causing inflammation or infection. That condition, called acute cholecystitis, can send someone straight to the emergency department and often requires surgery to remove the gallbladder.
Hearing all of this didn’t necessarily scare me away from the idea of GLP 1 medications, but it did reinforce something important. These drugs are powerful medical treatments, not just a quick weight loss shortcut.
Dr. Iucci emphasized that people considering these medications should work with physicians who are experienced in managing them. Some specialists even recommend evaluating the gallbladder before starting treatment, especially for patients who may already have stones.
She also warned about something that’s becoming more common, people getting these medications online or taking prescriptions that weren’t written for them. Without proper medical supervision, complications could go unnoticed until they become serious.
For me, the takeaway was simple. If I ever decide to try a GLP 1 medication, it won’t be because I saw a commercial or heard a friend talk about it. It will be after a conversation with a physician who understands the full picture. Losing weight is important. But doing it safely matters even more.
Brian Cahill is the Director of Marketing for Shore Medical Center and Shore Physicians Group. He also volunteers on the Board of the Somers Point Business Association and is an Adjunct Professor in the School of Business at Stockton University.
