There’s just one problem – you have belly bloating, and you can’t wear an outfit that showcases the bloat.
Abdominal bloating (or belly bloating) is when your belly looks distended, mimicking pregnancy. You feel full, somewhat stuffed, and it shows on your protruding belly. It’s not appealing, and it’s certainly not comfortable.
The good news is that the condition is temporary, and it can affect everyone and anyone from time to time. Contrary to popular belief, it’s not caused by an excess of fluids, even though it feels squishy to the touch. Fluids don’t accumulate in the abdomen unless there’s some major underlying medical condition, and that’s not the case if you’re well enough to be getting ready for a party.
The University of North Carolina Center for Functional GI & Motility Disorders claims belly bloating is a common occurrence in about 10 to 30 percent of people. The Center cites a survey in which 16 percent of the population reported bloating, with three-fourths of that total claiming it was moderate to severe. Almost half of those households (roughly 43 percent) used medication to treat it. The study found that 96 percent of those who had irritable bowel syndrome reported belly bloating, with 60 percent claiming it as the most bothersome aspect of having irritable bowel syndrome.
If you have frequent belly bloating, you might talk to your medical professional about the condition. There can be underlying diseases or abnormalities causing the bloat, like irritable bowel syndrome, dyspepsia, or abnormalities in the gastrointestinal tract or abdominal wall.