Do Fat People Fart More? An Informative Guide

Fat or overweight people have a higher body mass index (BMI) and might experience more bloating than others. This seems to have some connection to stomach problems that include abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, etc. 

These stomach problems can induce indigestion and cause flatulence. Perhaps this is why it’s a common conception that fat people fart more than others. 

Moreover, fat or overweight people are usually found to have a poor diet. Flatulence is often linked to a poor diet. There seems to be a faint connection between obesity and flatulence, but recent studies have proved there is no link between the two. Read our guide on “Do fat people fart more?” to know more about this.

What Causes Flatulence?

Recent studies haven’t been able to find any connection between obesity and flatulence. Obese people tend to have a high BMI, as well as high visceral and subcutaneous fat. 

Visceral fat is the fat that surrounds internal organs of the abdomen part of the body, such as the intestines, whereas subcutaneous fat is the fat that’s present below the skin. 

However, there seem to be other factors inducing flatulence, including other intra-abdominal fat, which can be found in highly sensitive intestines.

Flatulence and Indigestion

Flatulence is usually the cause of swallowing more air than normal or consuming food that’s not digested by the body. Small amounts of air are often ingested by the human body while swallowing saliva, food, or water. This air gets collected in the digestive system, which might later lead to flatulence. 

Activities that cause the swallowing of excess air are:

• Smoking
• Chewing gum
• Having dentures that are loose-fitted
• Sucking on hard objects like pen caps and hard sweets
• Swallowing large chunks of food and not chewing properly

Sometimes, gasses can also be produced in the process of digestion of food. This gas is made up of oxygen, hydrogen, nitrogen, and others. This accumulated gas or air needs to be released by the body in the form of flatulence, also known as farting or burping. 

The wind released can be odorless or have a characteristic odor due to the presence of sulfur or other gasses. Both are equally normal, and an average person experiences flatulence anywhere between 13 to 21 times a day. 

It’s normal for the body to not digest some carbohydrates properly. This causes partial absorption by the intestines, which passes down into the colon of the body and is then broken down with the help of bacteria. 

This breakdown at the last part of the digestive system produces gas, which is released in the form of flatulence. Some foods that contain greater amounts of carbohydrates that can’t be easily absorbed include:

• Cabbage
• Lentils
• Broccoli
• Beans
• Cauliflower
• Pulses
• Onions
• Apples
• Brussels sprouts
• Raisins
• Prunes

Cabbage and onions are major sources of sulfur, which can be released as gas when consumed in excess. This sulfur has a particularly foul smell which is released by the body in the form of flatulence. 

Other foods that can induce flatulence include:

• Bran, as it contains great amounts of unrefined cereal fiber
• Sorbitol-containing foods and drinks like sugar-free gum and slimming drinks
• Fructose-containing drinks like fruit juices

READ MORE: Should Fat Guys Wear Stripes?

Do Fat People Fart More? Excessive Flatulence

Excessive flatulence can be an indication of serious gut problems, like recurring indigestion or IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome). 

Other health problems that cause excessive flatulence or farting include celiac disease and gastroparesis. Excessive flatulence can cause a lot of pain and bloating that might seriously impact your day-to-day activities. 

If you feel your flatulence has increased, it’s crucial to get medical help. Sometimes, flatulence can be avoided with the introduction of a proper diet and exercise. 

A proper diet checks indigestion, as does drinking a good amount of water daily. Exercise helps the body move, and therefore reduces discomfort caused by the production of excessive gas in the gut.

Some health conditions that can lead to excessive farting or flatulence are:

• Indigestion
• Irritable Bowel Syndrome causes bloating, stomach cramps, constipation, and diarrhea
• Constipation
• Gastroenteritis, an infection of the stomach and bowel
• Coeliac disease, which is the inability of the human body to digest gluten, usually found in barley, wheat, and rye
• Lactose intolerance, which is the inability of the human body to break down lactose, is often found in milk and other dairy products, as well as natural sugar 
• Giardiasis, which is an infection of the digestive system, is usually the result of tiny parasites

How to Treat Flatulence

A common problem like flatulence that occurs out of indigestion can be treated with medication. However, flatulence can also be induced by numerous medicines, and it’s important to be aware of them.

Some medicines that might induce flatulence in the body include:

• Laxatives
• Antifungal medicines
• Statins
• NSAIDs (Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs), like ibuprofen

When to Visit the Doctor

Even when you take no medicines, you might face serious problems of flatulence. The best judge of what you experience is yourself, but if you frequently experience foul-smelling flatulence, it might be a good idea to visit the doctor.

There are probably certain additional symptoms accompanying the flatulence you experience. These might include:

• Persistent abdominal pain and/or bloating
• Frequent constipation or diarrhea
• Fast weight loss that can’t be explained
• Blood in feces
• Incontinence of bowel
• Infection signs, like fever, chills, vomiting, muscle, and joint pain, etc.

How to Control Flatulence

The only natural way to control excessive flatulence, unless you face a serious health problem, is to focus on your diet, and exercise regularly. Necessary changes could be implemented in your diet and lifestyle, as well. Some changes include:

• Avoid consuming foods that cause flatulence
• Eat and drink slowly
• Chew food properly
• Exercise regularly
• Follow an active lifestyle

As mentioned earlier, certain drugs can help treat flatulence if it troubles you too much. Such medications include simethicone or charcoal tablets, and can be quite helpful in treating excessive flatulence. However, it’s best to see a doctor if the problem worsens.

Conclusion

Do fat people fart more? Well, yes and no. The major factors affecting flatulence include improper diet, excess swallowing of air, indigestion, and numerous other health conditions. 

We think it’s safe to say there’s no relation between body fat and farting. Farting can be caused in the human body, irrespective of whether or not you’re fat or skinny. However, fat people who follow a poor diet and lifestyle may experience more flatulence or farting.