After finishing a big meal, you might notice that your pants feel a little tighter. But what's happening inside your stomach?
How much can it really stretch to fit all that food?
When your stomach is empty, it's about the size of a soda can, holding around half a liter (16 ounces) of space. But once you start eating, it can expand to the size of a 2-liter bottle — that's a lot more room!
Dr. Arthur Beyder, a doctor at the Mayo Clinic, explains that your stomach can grow to hold about 1 to 2 liters (0.25 to 0.5 gallons) of food and liquid. For competitive eaters, though, their stomachs can stretch to hold even more — up to 4 liters (1 gallon) of food!
A 2018 study talked about a competitive eater who went to the hospital after eating so much that his stomach got so big, it started pushing around his organs! He had to stay in the hospital for five days before he could feel normal again.
But most of us don't overeat like that. More often, we eat too much during family meals, like festivals, or when we're distracted, like when we're watching TV. Dr. Benjamin Levy, a doctor at the University of Chicago, says that people can eat way more than they realize when they're not paying attention.
Your body knows when it's time to eat because of a hormone called ghrelin. This hormone is mostly made by your stomach, but also by your brain, pancreas, and small intestine. When your stomach is empty, it sends a signal to your brain saying, "It's time to eat!"
As you start eating, the food travels down your esophagus and into your stomach. Your stomach has folds inside, called rugae, that allow it to stretch and make room for the food. Your stomach also releases acids and digestive juices to help break down the food, so your body can absorb the nutrients later on.
Your stomach is made of smooth muscle, which can stretch a lot to fit the food, almost like a rubber band. Dr. Beyder says, "It's like pulling on a rubber band — it'll stretch, but then snap back." This helps the stomach hold more food, even when it gets bigger.
The brain knows when your stomach is full because of signals sent through the vagus nerve, which runs from the stomach to the brain.
Hormones also help tell your brain that you're full. When you eat too quickly, or ignore these signals, you might end up feeling uncomfortably full because your brain doesn't get the "stop eating" message in time.
Dr. Levy's tip to avoid overeating is simple: slow down. "Take 15 minutes to talk or relax before going back for seconds," he says. But what if you overeat anyway? First, don't lie down — that could give you acid reflux. Dr. Levy suggests taking a gentle walk instead. This can help get your stomach moving and aid digestion.
While your stomach can stretch to hold all that food, it's always better to eat slowly and stop before you feel too stuffed. And remember, those leftovers are just as tasty the next day!
