Causes and management of abdominal bloating and indigestion

Abdominal bloating and a feeling of heaviness after meals can stem from various lifestyle habits and underlying medical conditions. Gastroenterologist Maria Júlia Colossi notes that eating too quickly, talking while chewing, and consuming sugar-free gum can increase air intake, leading to bloating. Additionally, certain foods such as beans, broccoli, onions, and carbonated beverages are known to increase gas production.

Dietary factors also include FODMAPs—short-chain carbohydrates and sweeteners that are poorly absorbed in the small intestine and fermented by bacteria in the large intestine. These include oligosaccharides (beans, lentils, wheat), disaccharides (dairy products), monosaccharides (certain fruits and honey), and polyols (berries, stone fruits, and mushrooms).

Medical experts highlight that persistent symptoms may indicate more serious issues, such as lactose intolerance, irritable bowel syndrome, dyspepsia, or H. pylori infection. At the United European Gastroenterology congress, discussions also addressed functional dyspepsia and gastroparesis. Functional dyspepsia can involve stomach hypersensitivity or insufficient gastric accommodation, where the stomach wall fails to relax properly to accommodate food. While many cases are related to digestion habits, persistent symptoms like intense pain, frequent vomiting, or unexplained weight loss require medical evaluation to rule out ulcers, obstructions, or cancer.