A prospective study of unexplained visible abdominal bloating.

Abstract

Patients whose primary complaint is visible abdominal bloating have greater increases in girth but not weight during bloating episodes than the normal daily fluctuations seen in healthy controls. They have weak abdominal muscles and frequently have recently gained weight. They are not more likely to have constipation, irritable bowel syndrome or obesity than patients whose primary complaint is something other than bloating.