What Causes Abdominal Bloating After Eating?

Written by Janet Renee

08 July, 2011

Fact Checked

Gas in the digestive tract commonly causes an uneasy feeling of fullness in the abdomen known as bloating. Less often, bloating is the result of certain digestive conditions that cause intestinal obstruction, or rapid emptying of the stomach's contents. Bloating can cause discomfort and even abdominal pain. If you are otherwise healthy and find yourself feeling bloated after eating, it is likely gas-related.

Is This an Emergency?

If you are experiencing serious medical symptoms, seek emergency treatment immediately.

Possible Culprits

Eating too fast and swallowing too much air can cause increased gas in the intestines and lead to bloating. Certain foods, especially those high in fiber such as beans, vegetables and fruit, may cause bloating 1. You can also experience bloating if you have trouble digesting certain nutrients, such as milk sugar, or lactose. Rapidly increasing fiber intake is a common culprit. If you're trying to increase your fiber intake, do so gradually to decrease discomfort. (Keep a food diary for help determining which foods cause you to feel bloated. Write down the content of your meals and take note when bloating occurs to give you a better idea of the cause.

Eating too fast and swallowing too much air can cause increased gas in the intestines and lead to bloating.
Write down the content of your meals and take note when bloating occurs to give you a better idea of the cause.