This Is Why You Get Bloated After Eating, And How To Treat It

Bloating—or stomach distension—is super common, with data suggesting that almost 18% of people around the world experience bloating at least once per week.

The process of digesting certain foods and several other factors can make it more likely that you’ll feel bloated after eating. Fortunately, there are at-home, over-the-counter (OTC), and prescription treatment options to choose from based on the exact cause of your post-meal bloating.

And to prevent excess bloating from cropping up in the future, there are a variety of expert-backed tips to help keep your gut health on track.

Symptoms of Bloating

In general, bloating is an uncomfortable feeling of fullness or pressure in your stomach. It happens when your gastrointestinal tract (the digestive system that runs from your mouth to your anus) fills with gas or air—which can be common after a meal.

When you're bloated, you may feel or notice:

• A feeling of fullness, like there's no more room left in your stomach
• Discomfort or pain in the stomach area
• Burping or passing gas
• A swelling or expansion in the stomach area, to the point where clothes may feel tight

For many people, occasional bloating and related mild symptoms only happen occasionally. But for others, especially when there's another health condition present, these symptoms may be moderate or severe to the point where they interfere with everyday activities.

How Long Does Bloating Last After Eating?

Bloating once in a while after eating is typically only temporary, usually landing somewhere between a couple of hours to a day or two. But exactly how long you'll feel bloated after a meal can depend on the underlying cause.

For example, is there a food intolerance or another gastrointestinal condition like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) at play? In addition, the time it takes your body to fully digest food can be anywhere from two five days.

What Causes Bloating After Eating?

Bloating after eating can happen due to a variety of causes—namely, your diet, lifestyle habits, any food allergies or intolerances, and sometimes certain health conditions.

Some common causes that may trigger bloating after eating include:

• Swallowing air while chewing your food
• Eating too much food in one sitting
• Eating foods that are high in fiber or sugar substitutes
• Lactose intolerance or other issues with food digestion
• Being constipated
• Having gastroesophageal reflux disease (or GERD) or IBS
• Bacterial overgrowth in the stomach
• Taking certain medications, like some prescribed for diabetes

Other more serious (and less common) causes could involve a medical condition such as:

• Stomach tumor
• Ovarian cancer
• Celiac disease, a condition that happens when the immune system reacts to gluten
  
• Pancreatic insufficiency, when the pancreas doesn't make enough of a necessary enzyme
• Dumping syndrome, when food moves too quickly through the digestive tract

How to Get Rid of Bloating After Eating

If your bloating is occasional or mild, know that there are some steps you can take to help reduce it. For example, you might consider:

• Trying drugstore remedies: Medications containing simethicone like GasX, Pepto Bismol (bismuth subsalicylate), charcoal caps, or lactase aids like Lactaid for dairy intolerances are helpful.
  
• Getting physical activity: Moving regularly before and after meals to help with digestion and reduce bloating symptoms.
• Self-massaging your abdominal area: Doing this while laying down can support healthy digestion.
• Herbal teas: Teas with ingredients like peppermint and chamomile to potentially help ease stomach-related symptoms.

People with bloating that happens frequently or severely may be recommended to try other prescription treatment options, including:

• Medication for irritable bowel syndrome (or IBS) like dicylomine
• Antibiotics for intestinal bacterial overgrowth
• Laxatives if constipation is at play

How to Prevent Bloating After Eating

It's important to point out that some bloating after eating once in a while is considered to be normal, so know that you may not be able to completely prevent it in all cases.

But if you're looking to avoid belly bloat as much as possible, experts recommend:

• Adjusting your diet to consume plenty of water, fresh produce, and healthy fats
• Avoiding alcohol, carbonated drinks, excess sugar and gas- and bloat-inducing foods, like beans, cabbage, cauliflower, and dairy
• Being mindful of getting enough fiber, but overdoing it
• Avoiding habits like chewing gum, sucking on hard candy, or drinking from straws
• Eating meals more slowly
• Quitting smoking
• Incorporating probiotics into your routine
• Treat constipation if needed

When to See a Healthcare Provider

Bloating every once in a while is usually not a cause of concern. But if you're noticing frequent and bothersome bloating, it's probably a good idea to check with a healthcare provider to make sure there aren't any underlying health conditions at play.

And if your severe bloating is accompanied by any of the following signs, seek medical attention right away:

• Bloody stool
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Heartburn that seems to get worse
• Noticeable, unintentional weight loss
• Fever
  

If a healthcare provider finds that your bloating is being prompted by something more serious, they will treat the root cause. From there, they can recommend a dietician, gastroenterologist, or other specialists to help you get your digestive system back on the right track.

A Quick Review

Occasional bloating after eating is pretty common and considered to be normal. This uncomfortable feeling of fullness or expansion in the stomach can be caused by a variety of factors, like certain foods, eating habits, or sometimes medical conditions.

While it's not always completely preventable, experts recommend adjusting your diet, trying OTC and at-home remedies, incorporating light exercise, and seeing a healthcare provider if the bloating is severe or gets worse.