This nationally-circulated article appeared in our local paper on 9/9/99. 

Key information and quotes:

1.  This longitudinal study of 60,290 women, ages 40 to 65 in 1986, was conducted by the Harvard School of Public Health and confirms an earlier study of men only.

2.  The study's findings:

"Women who exercise two to three hours a week cut their risk of excruciatingly painful gallstones by nearly one-third compared with women who don't exercise at all..."

"Women who sit for 41 to 60 hours a week -- that's most women with desk jobs -- were found to be 42 percent more likely to need their gall bladders removed than those who spend six hours or less sitting down."

"At more than 60 hours a week, the risk skyrockets:  A woman is 132 times as likely to need gall bladder surgery as someone who spends most of her waking hours on her feet."

Exercise was found to protect against gall bladder disease even in women who had known risk factors such as obesity or rapid weight loss.

Exercise is thought to "reduce the cholesterol content of bile, the digestive juice stored in the gall bladder... [which in turn] could reduce the number of gallstones."

"...people who exercise have more active large intestines and better levels of blood sugar and insulin, all of which may reduce the risk of gallstones."

My comments:

This news is yet another compelling reason to begin and stay on a workout schedule, at least 3 times a week!

In pregnancy, high levels of estrogen raise a woman's cholesterol level and make the gallbladder more sluggish, both of which can encourage gallstone formation.   Then, postpartum, the mother may have trouble getting the weight off, or she may lose weight rapidly (as I did);  evidently, either situation can contribute to gallstones.  If that mother is like me, she may even feel that she must remain sedentary in the early months, so that her milk supply is not compromised (too much exercise always reduces my milk supply).  Right there is yet another risk factor for gallstones.  Add all that up, and it's hardly surprising that I began having gallbladder attacks at 4 months postpartum.  I wish I had known about the gallbladder/exercise connection much sooner.  I probably wouldn't have needed to do strenuous aerobics or running to protect my gallbladder.  Most likely, walking for 30 minutes every day, and not even at a fast pace, would have been adequate to keep my digestion working efficiently... without compromising my milk production.  Well, as they say, hindsight is 20/20. 

The above excerpts have been posted in hopes that they will benefit you out there in mom-land.  Believe me, gallbladder attacks are no picnic!  As one who has been there, I encourage you to do all you can to protect your digestive health.

Note (February 2002): McConnaughey's article can no longer be accessed online (so far as I have been able to determine).  A related article is "Regular Exercise May Prevent Gallstone Surgery", at Dr. Joseph Mercola's website.