Is it Fat or Just Bloating?

Bryan Curtin, M.D., MHSc, is a Board Certified gastroenterologist and Director of The Center for Neurogastroenterology and GI Motility at The Melissa L. Posner Institute for Digestive Health & Liver Disease at Mercy. In response to a query from Women’s Health magazine, Dr. Curtin offered his insights between the differences between bloating and fat.

Explain the difference between bloating and fat.

Bloating is the transitory sensation of stretching within the GI tract that can be variable throughout the day and typically is caused by increased gas production. Fat will largely stay the same throughout the day and will only change slowly over time. Bloat will not generally show up on the scale is large changes, unless it is related to something else such as too much stool. Fat has small day to day variations but takes a long time to change meaningfully even with diet and exercise.

How do you know if a swollen stomach is the result of bloating or fat?

The biggest thing is seeing how the distention varies across an entire day. If its fat, it will never go down, but if its bloating and it changes with meals or bowel movements, its likely to be bloating.

What causes bloating in the stomach?

Biggest causes are increased gas production from complex sugar production (lactose, fructose, fructan for example) or possible other causes such as significant constipation or Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO). The sugar production causes gas if It is eaten in a large amount as it overwhelms the small intestines ability to absorb and break it down, leaks into the colon where the gut bacteria ferment it and covert it to hydrogen, sulfur, and methane.

What causes fat to accumulate around your stomach?

Some people are more prone to getting abdominal fat compared to fat in other areas, for example on the posterior or the legs. Abdominal fat is a risk factor for cardiac disease. The best way to get rid of fat is to decrease your caloric intake.

How can you relieve bloating?

Some over the counter products like Simethicone, Gaviscon, or natural products like peppermint oil can help with bloating. The best way is generally to try and have a bowel movement and avoiding carb/sugar heavy foods.

--Bryan Curtin, M.D., M.H.Sc
Director of Neurogastroenterology and Motility
Division of Gastroenterology and Motility

Dr. Curtin completed advanced training at the nation’s largest motility clinic in Augusta, Georgia. He has specialized expertise in neurogastroenterology and gastrointestinal (GI) motility disorders, which impact how digestive muscles and nerves move food through the digestive tract. Symptoms such as heartburn, difficulty swallowing, nausea, vomiting, abdominal bloating and distention and constipation can be key identifiers for motility issues.