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Oct 1, 2023 · Weight gain might stem from many causes, such as age-related physiological changes, underlying conditions, medication side effects, late-night eating, or possibly the makeup of gut bacteria. The reason for weight gain isn't always as obvious as inactivity or a poor diet.
- hhp_info@health.harvard.edu
- Overview
- How to tell if you’re gaining fat or if your belly is bloated
- What causes bloating?
- Remedies for stomach bloat
- What causes abdominal fat gain?
- How to lose abdominal fat
- When to contact a doctor with concerns about bloat or abdominal fat
- Takeaway
If your midsection feels slightly larger than usual, you might wonder if this size increase is caused by weight gain or bloating. Although the two may look and possibly feel the same, weight gain and bloating have key differences.
According to Bryan Curtin, MD, MHSc, director of the Center for Neurogastroenterology and GI Motility at Mercy Medical Center in Baltimore, bloating is the subjective sensation of abdominal fullness, pressure, or trapped gas. In other words, it’s when your belly becomes enlarged with gas or fluid. It’s generally a temporary condition.
In contrast, belly or abdominal fat develops over time. It requires a lower calorie intake and an increase in exercise to go away.
With that in mind, here are the main differences between bloating and abdominal fat, the causes of each, and ways to find relief.
Appearance and storage
You have a couple of easy ways to tell whether it’s fat or bloat, says Matthew Olesiak, MD, chief medical director at SANESolution. “Fat is stored throughout the body via adipocytes (fat cells),” he says. So, if you’re gaining fat, Olesiak says you’ll notice it on several other areas of your body, such as your back and thighs. But if your belly is the only body part that has expanded, Olesiak says it’s likely bloat.
How it feels
The next time you feel your abdomen expanding, pay attention to how it feels. Bloating will usually cause your belly to feel hard and tight, whereas abdominal fat will feel soft.
Length of time
One way to know if you’re gaining fat or just dealing with a bout of bloating is how long it lasts. Curtin says that bloating comes and goes. But generally, abdominal fat is more constant.
Bloating has several potential causes. Here are some of the more common triggers:
•Gas buildup in the intestines. This is a common cause of bloating, but it’s also a symptom of other gastrointestinal issues or disorders. Speak with a doctor if you have concerns or if you have recurring or constant bloating.
•Diet. Eating too much fiber, beans, dairy products, and other foods is a major cause of gas and bloating.
•Constipation. Having infrequent or unproductive bowel movements means that stool stays in your colon longer than it should. Olesiak says this gives bacteria more time to ferment it, which leads to excess gas and bloating.
•Inflammatory bowel disease. In Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract can trap gas and cause bloating.
•Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO). With SIBO, an atypical increase of bacteria exists in the small intestine. When the colon has an imbalance of bacteria, known as dysbiosis, Olesiak says bacteria can overgrow into the small intestine. This leads to many digestive symptoms, including bloating.
When it comes to bloating, you have two options to keep it in check: you can avoid foods and activities that trigger bloating, and you can intervene when you first notice your stomach feeling full or swollen. The good news is there are as many remedies for bloating as causes. Here are some remedies to try the next time you feel bloated.
Unlike stomach bloat that comes and goes throughout the day, abdominal fat, also called visceral fat, sticks around unless you make permanent changes to eliminate it. Abdominal fat usually the result of overall weight gain. This happens when you consume more calories than your body is burning.
For some people, abdominal fat is the result of an unbalanced diet and minimal physical activity. But for others, it might be caused mainly by diet, and more specifically, eating too many calories. This can happen even though they exercise regularly.
Foods that can contribute to abdominal fat gain include:
•sugary foods and drinks
•alcohol
•foods with high levels of trans fats
Most of us deal with abdominal fat. If you’re trying to lose a few pounds to reduce abdominal fat, you may decide to adjust your diet and increase your physical activity.
Overall, losing abdominal fat is a balance of diet, exercise, and lifestyle changes. This includes eating more fruits, vegetables, and lean protein, and reducing the amount of trans fat, refined carbs, sugar, and alcohol you consume.
Bloating is generally a temporary condition you can manage at home. But sometimes, visiting a doctor is a good idea.
Contact a doctor if your stomach is bloated and also distended, which is when the stomach gets noticeably larger after a meal. Also schedule an appointment if you’re experiencing bloating and:
•severe pain
•nausea and vomiting
•weight loss
You can also see a doctor if you are gaining abdominal fat. A doctor can provide helpful information about proper diet and exercise techniques you can use to lose fat.
Understanding the differences between stomach bloat and abdominal fat can help you determine the cause of your symptoms and the best way to manage them.
Bloating is often temporary. It’s usually caused by something in your diet, a medical condition, or your lifestyle.
- You’ve Been Drinking More Than Usual. Raise your hand if this sounds familiar: After a long day of back-to-back Zoom meetings and no time to take a breath of fresh air, you pour yourself a glass of wine to cope.
- You Started a New Workout Routine. Perhaps there are cycles during your life when fitness is a real focus of yours, and other moments when it becomes less of a priority.
- You Have Your Period. This monthly visitor comes with its own set of symptoms, reactions and cravings, yet some of us may still struggle to cope with period-related weight gain.
- You Have an Underlying Health Condition. While some aspects of your weight are within your control, others are not, including underlying health conditions or medications you take to live a full life.
You might be tempted to gain weight as quickly as possible to address the issues of being underweight, such as compromised health and energy as well as possible low self-esteem. Increase your body weight slowly to avoid adding excessive body fat, though.
- Andrea Boldt
Apr 12, 2024 · Health. What Causes Unexplained Weight Gain? A guide from AARP to some of the risk factors and causes of sudden — or at least sneaky — weight gain. By. Michael Schroeder, AARP. Reviewed by. Stan Sack, M.D. Comments. En español. Published April 12, 2024. Sarah Rogers (Source: Getty Images (5))
Jan 28, 2023 · Your blood pressure, blood sugar, cholesterol, and body fat may be at unhealthy levels. There might be no obvious symptoms except for extra pounds that add up around your waist.
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Jul 22, 2023 · Unhealthy diet. A diet that's high in calories, lacking in fruits and vegetables, full of fast food, and laden with high-calorie beverages and oversized portions contributes to weight gain. Liquid calories. People can drink many calories without feeling full, especially calories from alcohol.
