Causes of large abdomen

Answer 1

There are two common causes of unusual abdominal size. Although you should always see your doctor regarding health problems, they may or may not be helpful for resolving these issues as they are more "nuisance" than life threatening. There could be other causes, so if you are having other symptoms, seek medical advice. First, and perhaps the least likely if you have a low body fat generally, is that fat tends to build up around your internal organs in a web-like structure which protects these organs, called your omentum. Thus, reducing caloric intake and increasing activity levels can reduce this cause. Second, the increased abdominal size could be caused by an enlarged colon. The Merck Manual describes a condition known as megacolon. However, it is possible to have an enlarged colon that would not yet be classified as megacolon. This state could be related to water retention, bloating, or excess gas. However, if this has been a consistent issue for more than a few days, fecal retention is most likely the culprit. Fecal retention is most often caused by the colon sedating effects of wheat gluten, excess dietary fibre, or another cause of decreased colon motility. Treatment for this chronic or "latent" constipation is not as simple as alleviating the initial cause. Wheat gluten may need to be eliminated. Bowel habits may need to be re-examined. The website Gutsense.org provides some detailed advice and treatment for this and other conditions.