How much can your stomach expand after a large meal?

After treating yourself to a delicious meal, you may notice that the waist of your pants feels tighter than before. But why is this happening? After a big meal, how much can the stomach expand to accommodate all the food?

An adult’s empty stomach begins as a folded pouch the size of a soda can – 0.5 liters (16 ounces) – and can grow to the size of a 2 liters (0.5 gallon) plastic soda bottle during a meal. Dr. Arthur Beyderan associate professor of medicine and physiology at the Mayo Clinic, told Live Science.

“The size will quadruple or more,” he said. For most adults, this means that the stomach can hold between 1 and 2 liters of food and liquid, depending on age and body size. In extreme cases, such as competitive eaters, the stomach can expand to a capacity of 1 gallon (4 liters), Beyder said.

A 2018 study published in the journal Gastroenterology documented a competitive eater who came to the emergency room after eating so much that his stomach bloated, compressed his pancreas, and pushed his intestines to the side. After five days in the hospital, the man was able to pass gas and have a bowel movement and was able to be discharged.

More commonly, overeating occurs during social meals like Thanksgiving or when someone is stressed or distracted while watching TV. Benjamin Levya gastroenterologist at the University of Chicago Medicine, told Live Science.

“They’re busy, and before they know it, they’re almost suddenly … crowded because of it,” he said.

Related: What happens when you hold back a fart?

Human hunger is stimulated by the hormone ghrelin, which is produced primarily in the stomach, but also in the brain, small intestine and pancreas, according to the study Cleveland Clinic. This hormone is released when the stomach is empty so it can alert the brain that it’s time to eat.

Once someone begins to eat, the food travels down the esophagus and into the stomach. The stomach has folds called rugae that allow the stomach to expand and absorb incoming food and liquid, Levy said. When food enters the stomach, it releases hydrochloric acid and digestive enzymes. The organ also begins to move to break down the food into smaller pieces so that the nutrients can later be absorbed into the organ Small intestinehe said.

The stomach is made up of smooth muscle that can contract and maintain contractions over a long period of time, even after being stretched. This allows space to be created for more and more food.

“It’s like a rubber band,” Beyder said. “If you pull on it, it will spring back.” This is called myogenic tone, which controls how much tension the stomach has. Stomach tension is transmitted to the brain via the vagus nerve, which runs from the colon to the brain, the study says Cleveland Clinic. This is just one way stomach fullness is reported to the brain, Beyder said.

There are also hormonal changes that tell your brain when it’s time to stop eating. The hunger hormone ghrelin decreases, while other hormones signal the brain to feel full and reduce appetite. If someone eats too much, it may mean they ignored these signals or ate so quickly that their hormones didn’t have enough time to tell their brain that they were full, Levy said.

Black Friday 2024

(Image credit: Sony, Unistellar, Orzorz, Canon, Leica, Future)

Black Friday camera deals live: Plus savings on telescopes, binoculars and stargazing accessories

You can also grab the latest discounts on science kits, air purifiers, electric toothbrushes, and more, as recommended by our expert testers and editors.

The trick, Levy said, is to slow down. “Sit there and talk for 15 minutes before going back for seconds,” he said.

However, if you find yourself feeling too full at the dinner table, there are a few things you can do to ease the discomfort of overeating. At first, don’t lie down. This can arise acid refluxLevy said. Instead, he recommends taking a walk. This is said to stimulate digestion and motility, or the movement of food through the digestive system UC San Diego Health.

While the stomach is designed to expand and hold a cornucopia of food, you feel better when you don’t overeat, Levy said.

“Leftover Thanksgiving food is amazing, so you don’t have to eat it all the first time,” he said.

How much can your stomach expand after a large meal?

ByAmelia Journalton

By Amelia Journalton

Related Post

Emma Kenney is dating Conrad Hilton and shares Christmas photo with Paris Hilton’s younger brother | Conrad Hilton, Emma Kenney | Just Jared: Celebrity News and Gossip

Taliban fight against Pakistan – 15,000 Taliban fighters march against Pakistan. Why are the Taliban fighting back?

Food Court: From guilty pleasures to Greek delicacies – Stefanos Tsitsipas and Maria Sakkari let yourself be pampered! | ATP Tour

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You missed

Emma Kenney is dating Conrad Hilton and shares Christmas photo with Paris Hilton’s younger brother | Conrad Hilton, Emma Kenney | Just Jared: Celebrity News and Gossip

Taliban fight against Pakistan – 15,000 Taliban fighters march against Pakistan. Why are the Taliban fighting back?

Food Court: From guilty pleasures to Greek delicacies – Stefanos Tsitsipas and Maria Sakkari let yourself be pampered! | ATP Tour

People share the things they will definitely leave behind in 2024