Does eating less really make your stomach shrink?

atypicalsmith

I've heard this for years. But I do find that the less I eat, the less I want to eat. Anyone have some scientific evidence for or against this?

isulo_kura

Your signals may change (mentally) but physically your stomach is the same size. The only way it will shrink is if you have surgery

hhnkhl

Well...the first week of my 1200 calories to 1500 calories diet was difficult...but starting the second week...i dont feel like eating anymore...nor do i crave...however...if i meet someone and I HAVE to eat for the occassion...this sudden rush makes me binge eat...haha...then i go back to page one and start over again...then a week goes by....i dont crave fooda again. I dont know why...it just does

Christine_72

I don't think it shrinks, it gets used to eating less maybe?? I know it can stretch to gargantuan proportions lol

atypicalsmith

christinev297 wrote: »

I don't think it shrinks, it gets used to eating less maybe?? I know it can stretch to gargantuan proportions lol

Yes, it can definitely do that!!! I'm amazed at how much people who are obese can eat. That includes me!

atypicalsmith

(until now, that is)

MeiannaLee

I just know that I get much fuller much quicker these days.

Francl27

I don't think it has to do with stomach size... but more with the hormones that tell you when you are full.

SoulOfRusalka

I'm pretty sure it does actually shrink. When I started eating after a period of anorexia, it was physically painful to eat even small-normal amounts of food (like, two bananas and I would have to go lie down and it would hurt). That's only anecdotal evidence, mind you, not real science.

Drewlssix

LadyAbsynthe wrote: »

I'm pretty sure it does actually shrink. When I started eating after a period of anorexia, it was physically painful to eat even small-normal amounts of food (like, two bananas and I would have to go lie down and it would hurt). That's only anecdotal evidence, mind you, not real science.

Perhaps the more correct description is pliability. Most organs in our body reach a certain size upon adulthood and don't change much. It likely dose not get larger in terms of the cells it consists of, but those cells are either accustomed to stretching to accommodate lots of food or it isn't.

atypicalsmith

Drewlssix wrote: »

LadyAbsynthe wrote: »

I'm pretty sure it does actually shrink. When I started eating after a period of anorexia, it was physically painful to eat even small-normal amounts of food (like, two bananas and I would have to go lie down and it would hurt). That's only anecdotal evidence, mind you, not real science.

Perhaps the more correct description is pliability. Most organs in our body reach a certain size upon adulthood and don't change much. It likely dose not get larger in terms of the cells it consists of, but those cells are either accustomed to stretching to accommodate lots of food or it isn't.

That makes perfect sense. Thanks!

LAWoman72

This confuses me, because as I understand things (and as has been stated above), no, the stomach can't technically shrink (which I would assume implies that it can't grow, either). Yet on weight loss shows (yes, I'm a junkie), often, the doctor will say the patient's stomach is very enlarged, usually using fruit comparisons (one even said "watermelon" - I think that had to be an exaggeration). If this were simply from the stomach currently being stretched due to the presence of food, that wouldn't make sense, since generally, the WLS patients have been on a strict diet beforehand in order to attempt to decrease a fatty liver so that they can more easily view the other internal organs. Ergo, their stomachs couldn't currently be stretched out - i.e. during the surgery. Yet the doctors say the stomach is enlarged.