Many people, while enjoying a feast, often indulge in the delicious food without worrying about gaining weight for the moment. Some competitive eaters can consume a massive amount of food that surpasses what the average person can eat, as if their stomachs have an unlimited capacity. So, how large can a person’s stomach actually expand?
According to a report from the LiveScience website, the stomach is composed of smooth muscles that can tighten for a long period and maintain contraction even after stretching. This ability enables it to create space to accommodate a large quantity of food.
Dr. Arthur Beyder, an associate professor of medicine and physiology at the renowned Mayo Clinic in the United States, explained that the stomach functions similar to a rubber band – when it is stretched, it bounces back. This is known as myogenic tone, which controls the tension of the stomach.
Beyder mentioned that an adult’s empty stomach is like a folded bag, roughly the size of a soda can (0.5 liters or 16 ounces), and during a meal, it can expand to the size of a 2-liter (0.5-gallon) plastic soda bottle.
He stated that the stomach can expand to over four times its size. For adults, this means the stomach can hold between 1 to 2 liters (0.25 to 0.5 gallons) of food and liquid, depending on their age and body size. In extreme cases like eating competitions, participants’ stomachs can expand to accommodate up to 4 liters (1 gallon) of food and liquid.
Dr. Benjamin Levy, a gastroenterologist at the University of Chicago Medical Center, explained that once people start eating, food travels down the esophagus into the stomach. The folds in the stomach allow it to expand and hold the incoming food and liquid. Upon entry, the stomach releases stomach acid and digestive enzymes, starting the process of breaking down the food into smaller pieces for easier absorption of nutrients by the small intestine.
Levy pointed out that hormonal changes signal the brain when to stop eating. When individuals overeat, they may ignore these signals, or eat too quickly for the hormones to inform the brain that they are full.
People often tend to overeat on special occasions like Thanksgiving, under stress, or when distracted by activities such as watching TV. They may realize they have eaten too much only after the fact.
In case of overeating, Levy recommended taking steps to alleviate discomfort. Firstly, avoid lying down as it may lead to acid reflux. Instead, consider going for a walk.
The health center at the University of California San Diego mentioned that walking can stimulate digestion and the movement of food through the digestive system.
Although the design of the stomach allows it to expand and accommodate large amounts of food, one will feel better by not overeating. Just like during Thanksgiving, leftovers can be enjoyed gradually instead of finishing all the food in one go.
Moreover, it’s important for individuals to avoid binge eating to safeguard their health and possibly their lives.
Recently in mainland China, a female internet celebrity collapsed during a live broadcast after binge-eating for 10 hours, stuffing herself with 10 kilograms of food, which her body couldn’t handle, shocking many netizens.
Previously reported by Dajiyuan, this incident involved a female internet celebrity named Pan Xiaoting who tragically died during a live eating show on July 14, after continuously eating for 10 hours. The autopsy report revealed severe deformation in her abdomen, filled with undigested food.