{"entity":{"id":"weight-loss-and-fat-digestion-biliary","kind":"term","name":"Weight loss, fat digestion and enzymes with gallbladder cancer","aka":[],"tldr":"Many people with gallbladder cancer lose appetite and weight; small frequent meals, prescribed nutritional drinks, a dietitian, and enzyme capsules if fat is not being digested are the standard NHS-side answers.","summary":"Cancer Research UK's page on eating problems with gallbladder cancer says \"many people who have gallbladder cancer lose their appetite and some may lose weight\", advises having \"lots of small meals and snacks throughout the day, rather than sticking to the traditional 3 meals\", notes that nutritional supplements \"are available on prescription\" and that \"sipping nutritional supplements throughout the day can really boost your calorie and protein intake\", and says of digestion: \"you might not make enough digestive juices ... You usually take supplements of enzymes to help you digest fat\". It also notes that after gallbladder removal \"bile is no longer stored in the gallbladder and flows directly from the liver into your small bowel\", which can cause diarrhoea. Macmillan's eating problems page adds fortifying everyday foods and says \"if you have eating problems, your doctor or nurse may suggest you see a dietitian\".\n\nQuestions worth asking the team or dietitian: whether pale, oily, floating or foul-smelling stools mean fat is not being digested; whether pancreatic enzyme capsules are appropriate and how to take them with meals and snacks; whether a low-fat diet is needed (Cancer Research UK mentions avoiding fatty foods while jaundiced rather than a permanent rule); and whether weight loss is enough to ask for a formal malnutrition screen. AMMF publishes a diet and nutrition booklet for biliary cancer. This is orientation from public patient pages, not advice for your case: your own team's instructions and 24-hour number come first.","asOf":"2026-09-24","links":[{"label":"Cancer Research UK: eating problems and gallbladder cancer","url":"https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/gallbladder-cancer/living-with/eating-problems"},{"label":"Macmillan: eating problems","url":"https://www.macmillan.org.uk/cancer-information-and-support/impacts-of-cancer/eating-problems"},{"label":"AMMF: nutrition","url":"https://ammf.org.uk/nutrition/"},{"label":"Cancer Research UK: controlling symptoms of bile duct cancer","url":"https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/bile-duct-cancer/treatment/controlling-symptoms"}],"tags":[],"related":[],"cancers":["gallbladder"],"sections":[],"technologies":["oncology-nutrition","enteral-parenteral-nutrition"],"targets":[],"drugs":[],"companies":[],"institutions":[],"pathways":[],"terms":["cachexia","malnutrition-screening","nutrition-impact-symptoms","eating-after-gallbladder-removal"],"trials":[],"people":[],"bottlenecks":[],"keyPapers":[],"journals":[],"dependsOn":[],"notes":[],"category":"Nutrition & lifestyle"},"route":"/terms/weight-loss-and-fat-digestion-biliary/","neighbours":{"cancer":[{"id":"gallbladder","kind":"cancer","name":"Gallbladder cancer","route":"/cancers/gallbladder/"}],"technology":[{"id":"enteral-parenteral-nutrition","kind":"technology","name":"Enteral and parenteral nutrition support","route":"/technologies/enteral-parenteral-nutrition/"},{"id":"oncology-nutrition","kind":"technology","name":"Nutrition support and cachexia management","route":"/technologies/oncology-nutrition/"}],"term":[{"id":"cachexia","kind":"term","name":"Cancer cachexia","route":"/terms/cachexia/"},{"id":"cancer-related-fatigue","kind":"term","name":"Cancer-related fatigue (tiredness)","route":"/terms/cancer-related-fatigue/"},{"id":"eating-after-gallbladder-removal","kind":"term","name":"Eating after gallbladder removal","route":"/terms/eating-after-gallbladder-removal/"},{"id":"malnutrition-screening","kind":"term","name":"Malnutrition screening tools (MUST, NRS-2002, MST, PG-SGA)","route":"/terms/malnutrition-screening/"},{"id":"nutrition-impact-symptoms","kind":"term","name":"Nutrition impact symptoms","route":"/terms/nutrition-impact-symptoms/"}]}}