Gall stones in a Danish population. Relation to weight, physical activity, smoking, coffee consumption, and diabetes mellitus

Abstract

The presence of gall stones diagnosed by ultrasonography in a cross sectional study was analysed in relation to relative weight, weight change since age 25, slimming treatment, physical activity, smoking, consumption of coffee, and diabetes mellitus. The random sample comprised 4581 men and women of Danish origin, aged 30, 40, 50, and 60 years, of whom 3608 (79%) attended the investigation. In women high body mass index, history of slimming treatment, and weight gain since the age of 25 of more than 5 body mass index units were each significantly associated with gall stones (p<0·05), while only body mass index was significant (p<0·05) in a multivariate analysis. In men history of slimming treatment was significantly associated (p<0·05) with gall stones in univariate and in multivariate analyses, where smoking also became significantly associated (p<0·05). No significant association was detected between gall stones and the other variables.