RESUMO
This study was carried out on 50 obese and 50 average weight females with normal laboratory investigations. Gallbladder volumes were measured in fasting state and 1 1/2 hours after a liquid fatty meal by ultrasonography. The incidence of gall stones in the obese group was 28% compared to 2% in non-obese group. The fasting gallbladder volume in the obese group was [32.7 +/- 8.9] which was significantly higher than non-obese group [16.1 +/- 2.7] and the postprandial volume was also higher in the obese [14.6 +/- 5.02] than non-obese group [2.9 +/- 1.07]. The cases with morbid obesity had significantly larger fasting volume than the rest of obese females [39.3 +/- 12.3 versus 27.7 +/- 4.9] and also larger postprandial volume [25.7 +/- 6.7 versus 11.7 +/- 4.03]. The incidence of gall stones in the morbidly obese was 40% compared to 14.3% in the rest of obese females. The volumes of gallbladder were also significantly higher in android obesity group compared to gynoid obesity, with a higher incidence of gall stones in the android group. It is concluded that gallbladder contractility is impaired in obese females especially in morbid obesity and android obesity