Who Is at Risk for Gallstones?

This year, more than 1 million people in the United States will learn they have gallstones. They will join the estimated 20 million Americans--roughly 10 percent of the population--who already have gallstones.

Those who are most likely to develop gallstones are:

* Women between 20 and 60 years of age. They are twice as likely to develop gallstones than men.

* Men and women over age 60.

* Pregnant women or women who have used birth control pills or estrogen replacement therapy.

* Native Americans. They have the highest prevalence of gallstones in the United States. A majority of Native American men have gallstones by age 60. Among the Pima Indians of Arizona, 70 percent of women have gallstones by age 30.

* Mexican-American men and women of all ages.

* Men and women who are overweight.

* People who go on "crash" diets or who lose a lot of weight quickly.