Have there been cases of gallbladder problems in women under 40?

An increasing number of young people were reported by the Baltimore Sun in 2011 as having gall bladder problems. Although typically affecting women over age 40, gall bladder removal surgeries in people age 30 or younger increased almost 4 percent at St. Joseph Medical Center from 2007 to 2011.

Dr. Emanuele Lo Menzo of the University of Maryland Medical Center states that he sees several issues that could cause this increase, reports the Baltimore Sun. Changes in diets, such as the incorporation of fattier foods or more preservatives, can have this effect. More medical imaging is thought to bring attention to gall bladder problems more frequently, which can misleadingly alter statistics.