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The Physical Effects of
Overeating
What Happens to Your Body
when You Eat too Much
Saying that you are stuffed
is not just a figure of speech; when you eat too much at once, you are
stretching your stomach beyond its normal capacity. When you pull up to the
table, your stomach is somewhere around the size of your closed fist. Before
you start shoveling it in, take a look at the food on your plate, as
compared to the size of your clenched hand. Then think about what all that
food is doing to your stomach – you are literally forcing it to expand like
a balloon.
Overextending your stomach’s capacity repeatedly through overeating not only
causes considerable discomfort in the short term, it can compromise your
health in the long run. If you recognize any of the following symptoms, you
are probably eating too much in one sitting!
-
Shortness of breath
after eating: Gorging yourself at mealtimes causes your
stomach to
become distended, forcing it upward against your diaphragm and lungs. Your
stomach can expand up to three times its size after a large meal, causing
you to have difficulty catching your breath until your stomach once again
recedes to its normal size.
-
Belching and/or nausea:
When you eat too much, not all of the food you swallow can make it to
the stomach right away. This causes a backup in your esophagus which leads
to frequent burping, and occasionally, feelings of nausea – not the ideal
end to a delicious meal.
-
Heartburn: Eating
too much at once makes it difficult for the valve at the top of your stomach
to close properly, permitting digestive fluids to back up into your
esophagus and causing acid reflux. This condition causes severe discomfort;
if it happens on a regular basis, you can sustain damage to the delicate
tissue lining your esophagus. In some cases, this can lead to esophageal
cancer.
-
Food coma: It is
fairly common to feel sleepy a short time after eating a
large meal. While
this is in part due to brain chemistry, the so-called “food coma” is also
directly related to the energy expenditure needed to digest an overdose of
food. The stomach and intestines are hard-put to process and distribute all
of the nutrients they have received; this causes an
energy drain on the rest
of your system that leaves you yawning and yearning for a nap.
While it can be tempting to eat big at family dinners and
holiday
gatherings, a little common sense can help you overcome the urge to
gobble
as much as you can. Try drinking a glass of water before you sit down to
eat; it will fill up some of the space so that you feel full sooner, without
causing all of the nasty effects described here.
Eat smaller, more frequent
meals; try sampling small amounts of the foods you enjoy, rather than
loading up your plate two or three times.
Effects of Overeating on
Metabolism & Energy Burning Problems
Number of Triggers To Affect Overeating Problems
Help in Cutting the Cravings to overeat
You must seek approval from your doctor
before starting any new diet.
Please read our
Terms!
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