An adult’s empty stomach is as large as a 0.5 liter can and can expand to the size of a 2 liter bottle, some even up to 4 liters.
The stomach can expand four times when it is full. Image: New York Post
After enjoying a hearty meal, the eater will feel a larger belly and tighter pants than before. So how much can the stomach expand?
An adult’s empty stomach resembles a folded bag as large as a 0.5-liter can, and during meals, it can grow to the size of a 2-liter plastic bottle, according to Arthur Beyder, associate professor of medicine. and physiology at the Mayo Clinic.
“It will expand fourfold or more,” Beyder said. For most adults, this means the stomach can hold 1 – 2 liters of food and liquid, depending on age and body size. In special cases, for example in competitive eaters, the stomach can expand to hold 4 liters.
2018 study in the journal Gastroenterology recorded a case of a competitive eater needing emergency care after eating so much that the stomach expanded, compressing the pancreas and pushing the intestines to one side. After 5 days in the hospital, this person was able to pass gas and have a bowel movement, meaning he was eligible for discharge.
Overeating also often occurs at parties, when stressed or distracted by watching TV, according to Benjamin Levy, a gastroenterologist at the University of Chicago Medicine. “They get distracted, and before they know it, they’ve eaten too much,” he said.
Hunger is stimulated by the hormone ghrelin. This hormone is mainly secreted by the stomach, but also by the brain, small intestine and pancreas, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Ghrelin is released when the stomach is empty to warn the brain that it’s time to eat.
When a person begins to eat, food goes down the esophagus and into the stomach. Folds called ruga allow the stomach to expand to accommodate food and liquid. When food enters, the stomach secretes hydrochloric acid and digestive enzymes. This organ also begins to contract, breaking food into smaller pieces so nutrients can be absorbed later, in the small intestine.
The stomach is made of smooth muscle, which can tighten and hold contractions for a long time, even after relaxation. This allows the stomach to create more space for more food.
“It’s almost like a rubber band, you pull it and it snaps back,” Beyder said. This is called muscle tone, which helps control stomach distension. Stomach distension is transmitted to the brain via the vagus nerve, which runs from the large intestine to the brain, according to the Cleveland Clinic. This is just one of the ways to communicate the fullness of the stomach to the brain.
There are also hormonal changes that signal the brain when to stop eating. The hormone ghrelin decreases, while other hormones signal satiety to the brain and reduce appetite. If you eat too much, this person may have ignored those signals, or eaten so quickly that the hormones haven’t had time to signal the brain.
The trick is to eat slowly, says Levy. “Let’s sit there and talk for 15 minutes before coming back for more food,” he said. Although the stomach is designed to expand and hold more food, people will feel better if they don’t overeat, Levy said.
But if you’re too full, there are a few things you can do to reduce discomfort. First, don’t lie down because it can cause acid reflux. Instead, Levy recommends walking. This action helps stimulate digestion and stimulates food to pass through the digestive system.