Introduction
Being too heavy and having stomach pain that lasts a long time are both common problems for people today. Obesity means having too much fat on your body which is not good for your health, while chronic abdominal pain is when your belly hurts a lot and keeps coming back. When someone is too heavy, it can make them more likely to have chronic abdominal pain.
Doctors have found that obesity is one of the biggest reasons why people have chronic abdominal pain. This can make it hard for people to do things they enjoy or work. So it’s important to understand why obesity causes chronic abdominal pain, and what we can do about it.
In this article, we’ll talk about the top 3 reasons why obesity can lead to chronic abdominal pain. We’ll explain what happens in the body and give examples of health problems that can cause stomach pain in people who are overweight. If we know why obesity causes chronic abdominal pain, we can find ways to prevent it and help people feel better.
Reason #1: Increased pressure on the abdomen
When someone is carrying too much weight, it can put extra pressure on their belly. This pressure can squeeze the organs in the abdomen and make them feel uncomfortable or painful. Let’s look at how this happens and what health problems can result.
How excess weight leads to increased pressure
- More fat in the abdomen: When someone is overweight, they usually have more fat in their belly. This extra fat takes up space in the abdomen and can push on organs, like the stomach, intestines, and liver.
- Weaker abdominal muscles: Carrying too much weight can make the muscles in the belly weaker. These muscles help to support the organs and keep them in place. If they’re not strong enough, the organs can shift around and cause pain.
- Increased abdominal circumference: A bigger waistline can mean more pressure on the abdomen. When someone is too heavy, their waistline can grow, which makes the distance around the belly larger. This can compress the organs and cause pain.
Examples of conditions that can cause chronic abdominal pain due to increased pressure
- Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD): When someone has GERD, stomach acid flows back up into the esophagus and causes pain. Being overweight can make GERD worse by putting more pressure on the stomach and forcing the acid up.
- Hiatal hernia: A hiatal hernia is when part of the stomach moves up into the chest through a hole in the diaphragm. This can happen when there’s too much pressure on the abdomen. Being overweight is a risk factor for developing a hiatal hernia.
- Constipation: When someone is constipated, their stool moves too slowly through the intestines and can cause pain. Being overweight can make constipation worse by slowing down the movement of food through the intestines.
To stop and treat long-lasting belly pain, we need to know how being overweight can cause extra pressure on the belly. We can do things to help like keeping a healthy weight, working out often, and strengthening belly muscles. These steps can lower pressure on the belly and make us healthier.
Reason #2: Inflammation
Inflammation is the body’s way of protecting itself from harm, like an infection or injury. But when it becomes chronic, it can cause problems, like chronic abdominal pain.
How obesity can cause inflammation
Obesity means having too much body fat, especially around the belly. This can make the body produce more chemicals that cause inflammation. It can also change the balance of bacteria in the gut, leading to chronic inflammation.
Examples of conditions that can cause chronic abdominal pain due to inflammation
Chronic inflammation can cause different kinds of gut problems that lead to chronic abdominal pain. Some examples are:
- Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS): A condition that makes the large intestine not work well. It can cause stomach pain, bloating, and changes in bowel habits.
- Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD): A group of conditions that cause chronic inflammation in the digestive tract. It can cause stomach pain, diarrhea, and other gut symptoms.
- Chronic pancreatitis: A condition where the pancreas becomes damaged and inflamed over time. It can cause stomach pain, nausea, and digestive problems.
Reason #3: Gastrointestinal Disorders
Obesity can cause problems in your stomach and intestines, which can lead to chronic stomach pain.
How Obesity Causes Gastrointestinal Disorders
When you eat a lot of unhealthy food, it can slow down your digestion and make it hard to go to the bathroom. This can cause stomach pain and constipation. Also, if you’re overweight, it can put pressure on your stomach and make acid from your stomach go up into your throat, causing pain and discomfort.
Examples of Conditions Caused by Gastrointestinal Disorders
- Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) — IBS can make your stomach hurt, and you may feel bloated and have diarrhea or constipation.
- Gallstones — These are little stones that form in your gallbladder, which can cause severe pain in the upper part of your stomach.
- Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) — NAFLD happens when there’s too much fat in your liver, which can cause swelling and pain in your stomach.
Evidence Supporting Gastrointestinal Disorders
Research has shown that people who are overweight have a higher chance of getting stomach and intestinal problems like IBS, gallstones, and NAFLD.
What You Can Do to Help Your Stomach
Eating healthy foods and getting exercise can help you keep a healthy weight and prevent gastrointestinal disorders. If you already have a stomach problem, talk to your doctor about treatment options like medication or lifestyle changes.
Conclusion
In conclusion, being too heavy can cause stomach pain in three ways. First, it squeezes the stomach too much. Second, it makes the body swollen. Third, it increases the chance of having stomach issues.
To stop or fix stomach pain, it’s important to deal with being too heavy. People can eat healthier, exercise more, and see a doctor when needed. By doing these things, people can avoid stomach pain and feel better overall.
In short, being too heavy is a major cause of stomach pain. By learning how this happens and making some simple changes, people can take control of their health and feel good again.
