Stomach problems and obesity have increased in many countries in the world. One of the main reasons for this is unhealthy and junk food introduced in our diet. This leads to conditions like bloating and fat deposits.
People often confuse the terms ‘bloating’ and ‘fat’ but they are different and should be treated accordingly. They have different causes and so require different medical solutions.
Bloating vs Fat
The main difference between bloating and fat is that bloating can occur when your belly becomes big with fluid or gas while fat develops when you are consuming food too high in calories and are not burning enough of them.
It is easy to note the difference between them because you can physically hold your belly fat while this is not the case with bloating.
Belly fat does not cause the stomach to expand greatly but bloat does make your belly expand. Other features that differentiate between bloating and fat is given in the comparison table below.
Comparison Table Between Bloating and Fat (in Tabular Form)
| Parameter of Comparison | Bloating | Fat |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | Bloating occurs when your stomach feels swelled from over-eating. | Excess fat near your abdomen due to high-calorie foods. |
| Causes | High fiber foods, overeating, salt consumption | Over-consumption of fatty foods, sugar and calories intake |
| Remedies | Water intake, less carbonated drinks, and salt, slow eating | Exercise, more fruits, and vegetables |
| Extreme conditions | Diarrhea, vomiting, stomach pain | Heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure |
| Signs | Tight stomach | Bulgy stomach |
What is Bloating?
Bloating occurs when your stomach gets swelled up with air or gas by overeating. It is often described as a feeling of hardened and tight stomach.
It is accompanied by burping, excessive gas, pain, and rumbling in the belly. So bloating can sometimes interfere with your work and social activities.
The most common causes of bloating include overeating, swallowing air, salt consumption, and chewing gum.
The main cause is that when you are eating food, you also swallow air and that is how gas builds up in your digestive tract.
There are a lot of remedies that can help overcome this problem. Avoid chewing gum because it causes you to swallow extra air. Less intake of carbonated drinks and avoiding foods that cause bloating also helps.
Also, it is advised to eat slowly and avoid drinking using a straw. There might also be some extreme conditions linked to bloating.
Some hormonal changes, bowel disorder, mental factors such as anxiety or stress, kidney disease, ovarian cancer can also cause bloating.
Abdominal massages also help relieve abdominal pain and bloating. Doctors suggest that a 15 min massage can release stress, bloating, and improve the overall well-being of a person.
It would be better to consult a doctor if bloating is accompanied by vomiting, diarrhea, and high fever. Doctors may prescribe medicines in such conditions such as anti-biotic to ease bloating.
What is Fat?
We are referring to fat here as abdominal fat. It is the excess amount of fat surrounding our abdomen.
There are three types of fat:
- The fat that circulates in the blood
- The fat that is layered over the skin
- Dangerous belly fat
Belly fat is often regarded as dangerous for the human body and mind. It is estimated that obesity kills thousands of people every year and is the leading cause of death around the world.
Fat can cause you to have a hormonal imbalance, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and even cancer.
This dangerous fat secretes hormones and chemicals that impact the system of the human body. These chemicals are more than what the human body demands and thus increase the risk of stroke. Protein has been linked to combating abdominal fat. It reduces cravings and increases your metabolism. Protein is found in beans and lentils.
Main Differences Between Bloating and Fat
Some of the features that differentiate between bloating and fat are given below:
- Bloating is the excessive swelling in the abdomen while abdominal fat is the excessive fat surrounding your abdomen.
- Bloating can be caused due to high fiber foods, salt consumption, and overeating while fat can be caused due to the consumption of fatty foods, high-calorie foods, and sugar intake.
- The remedies of bloating include water intake, less consumption of carbonated drinks and salt, and slow eating. The remedies of fat include exercise and more fruits and vegetables.
- Extreme conditions of bloating include diarrhea, vomiting, and stomach pain whereas extreme conditions of fat include heart diseases, diabetes, and high blood pressure.
- The signs of bloating include a tight stomach while the signs of fat include a bulgy stomach.
Conclusion
Whether it is bloating or fat, there are certain diseases linked to it. It is advised not to take these conditions on a lighter note and consult your doctor immediately in case of extreme conditions.
Also, mental health is linked to these conditions so it affects the overall well being of a person. By introducing some key lifestyle changes in your life, you can stay healthy and avoid any diseases that may cause permanent harm to the human body.
Many fitness experts have spread awareness of these conditions and upload fitness content to help the layman stay fit. The TV shows also invite guests to talk about human health and ways to keep you healthy.
References
- https://www.healthline.com/health/abdominal-bloating
- https://www.atkins.com/how-it-works/library/articles/what-is-belly-fat-discover-what-it-is-and-how-to-get-rid-of-it