10 Common Causes of Flatulence
Cause #2: Eating Disorders
There are a number of reasons why eating disorders can contribute to flatulence, along with other gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms.
For example, in eating disorders, the muscles of the small intestine and the colon can begin to waste away (atrophy) because they are not regularly being used. This can cause food to take longer to move through our gastrointestinal tract, causing bloating and flatulence. Also, chronic food restriction can decrease the endocrine signaling for the production of digestive enzymes and hormones, slowing the process even more. Frequent vomiting, laxative abuse, irregular food intake, and a diet low in fiber/ water can hinder bowel function as well. Furthermore, in patients with eating disorders, the GI system becomes somewhat inefficient. This makes the process of recovery challenging for people with eating disorders since they can experience substantial gastrointestinal distress with renourishment.
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