Specialist doctors are calling for more research to determine whether a connection exists between popular weight-loss injections and a rise in gallbladder removals in the UK.
Data from NHS England shows that the number of gallbladder surgeries recorded in 2024–25 reached its highest level in a decade, sparking concerns among medical professionals.
Ahmed Ahmed, president of the British Obesity and Metabolic Specialist Society, said he has been performing more gallbladder operations recently, with an increasing number of patients reporting previous use of weight-loss injections.
“Gallstones are a known side effect of these medications,” Ahmed explained. “We don’t yet know whether the injections directly cause gallstones or whether it is the rapid weight loss triggered by the drugs that leads to their formation. Clearly, further research is needed to clarify the relationship.”
The UK’s Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) recently updated guidance on GLP-1 injections, such as Wegovy, highlighting the risk of acute pancreatitis—a condition often linked to gallstones. Manufacturers of Mounjaro, Wegovy, and Saxenda stated that patient safety remains a top priority and that reports of adverse reactions are closely monitored.
According to estimates from University College London, around 1.6 million adults in the UK used weight-loss injections over the past year, primarily via private prescriptions rather than the NHS. While most users reported positive outcomes without gallstone complications, some experienced serious side effects.
One such case is that of Sue Peacock, a mother of five from Wirral, Merseyside. After starting Mounjaro, Peacock was diagnosed with gallstones and told she needed her gallbladder removed. Before the surgery could take place, she developed pancreatitis, a potentially life-threatening inflammation of the pancreas.
“I felt like I was dying,” Peacock recalled. “The pain was worse than anything I had ever experienced. I was struggling to breathe and was really, really sick. I was petrified.”
Peacock, who had no prior health issues, believes the weight-loss injections were the cause of her severe illness. She described the experience as life-changing, noting that her children constantly worry about her health. “For me, there’s a lifelong impact—it almost kind of brings your mortality into focus,” she said.
As weight-loss injections continue to grow in popularity, medical experts stress the importance of investigating potential side effects, particularly their connection to gallbladder complications.
