NBCNews.com: As Young Women Show Distended Bellies on TikTok, Bloating Gets New Attention
NBCNews.com recently interviewed Brennan Spiegel, MD, MSHS, the Dorothy and George Gourrich Chair in Digital Health Ethics and director of Health Services Research at Cedars-Sinai, about whether an increase in posts about bloating on the social media app TikTok could indicate that the condition has become more common.
Bloating, a feeling of tightness and fullness in the stomach, can be caused by food sensitivities, constipation or taking in too much air when eating or sleeping.
Spiegel, who co-authored a study about bloating, told NBCNews.com that he has not noticed an increase in patients with the condition.
“I can’t say that I’ve seen some remarkable uptick,” said Spiegel, who also is a professor of Medicine at Cedars-Sinai. “I’ve just seen a steady, constant flow of people with bloating.”
Spiegel told NBCNews.com that using probiotics and supplements to treat bloating—methods often touted by social media wellness influencers—hasn’t been scientifically proven.
“Unfortunately, we don’t yet have enough science to know for sure whether, when and how best to take probiotics,” he said.
Spiegel said that while some bloating is normal, chronic bloating may be a sign of a medical issue.
“Having some stomach aches, some bloating—they’re so common, it’s almost part of being a human,” he said. “When it becomes a problem, though, is when it’s really affecting your quality of life.”
Increased discussions on social media about bloating could be fueled in part by a trend toward greater awareness of gut health, the importance of good gut bacteria and ways to tackle digestive issues.
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