Bloating can be caused by various factors including low calorie intake, lack of physical activity, not drinking enough water, and consuming excessive amounts of fizzy drinks, alcohol, caffeine, processed foods or sugary foods.
Consult a GP if experiencing bloating for three weeks or longer with additional symptoms.
Experts suggest an increase in consumption of ultraprocessed foods with high quantities of gluten or fructose may contribute to bloating.
Making dietary changes, staying physically active, drinking enough water, and consuming a balanced diet can help prevent and manage bloating.
Nadya Okamoto gained attention for her video revealing her distended belly due to bloating, which amassed 3.8 million views.
TikTok has emerged as a platform for young women to discuss and document their experiences with bloating.
In a world where bloating has become an increasingly common issue, social media platform TikTok has emerged as a space for young women to openly discuss and document their experiences with the condition. One such creator, Nadya Okamoto, gained significant attention when she posted a video of herself dressed as pregnant Rihanna for a friend's birthday party, revealing her distended belly due to bloating. The video amassed 3.8 million views and sparked numerous conversations about the topic on the platform.
Bloating is often attributed to various factors such as consuming a chronically low amount of calories, lack of physical activity, not drinking enough water, and consuming excessive amounts of fizzy drinks, alcohol, caffeine, processed foods or sugary foods. In some cases, it can also be a warning sign of more serious health concerns like ovarian cancer. Dr. Jenny Le advises consulting a GP if experiencing bloating for three weeks or longer despite diet changes or if experiencing additional symptoms such as being sick, diarrhea, constipation, weight loss or blood in stool.
Experts suggest that an increase in the consumption of ultraprocessed foods with high quantities of gluten or fructose may contribute to bloating. TikTok users often use the #bloating or #bloated hashtags to discuss and share their experiences with this issue. BelliWelli's 'Hot girls have IBS.' campaign went viral, encouraging women to share their stories about living with Irritable Bowel Syndrome and bloating.
In addition to seeking medical advice for persistent bloating, making dietary changes such as avoiding excessive consumption of fizzy drinks, alcohol, caffeine, processed foods or sugary foods; staying physically active; drinking enough water especially for those following a high-fibre diet; and consuming a balanced diet can help prevent and manage the condition.
Nadya Okamoto, a TikTok creator, had a distended belly due to bloating and dressed up as pregnant Rihanna for a party.
Many young women discuss and document bloating on TikTok using the #bloating or #bloated hashtags.
Experts suggest an increase in consumption of ultraprocessed foods with high quantities of gluten or fructose may contribute to bloating.
BelliWelli’s ‘Hot girls have IBS.’ campaign went viral and encouraged women to share their experiences with bloating.
Accuracy
]Many young women are documenting and discussing bloating on TikTok, often attributing it to menstruation or constipation.[
Deception
(30%)
The article contains several examples of sensationalism and selective reporting. The author focuses on the trend of young women discussing bloating on TikTok, but fails to provide any context or information about the prevalence or causes of bloating in general. The author also quotes several individuals who describe their experiences with bloating without providing any expert analysis or perspective. Additionally, the article mentions a billboard campaign by BelliWelli that went viral on social media, but does not disclose that the company is a source for the article.
Okamoto is one of many young, female creators who are documenting and discussing bloating on the app.
The phrase went viral on social media.
Around 158,000 TikTok posts feature the #bloating or #bloated hashtags.
Fallacies
(85%)
The article discusses the trend of young women documenting and discussing bloating on TikTok, attributing it to menstruation or constipation among other causes. The piece also includes examples of anecdotal increases in patients reporting symptoms of bloating to their doctors. While the article does not make any formal logical fallacies, it does rely heavily on anecdotal evidence and personal experiences without presenting any concrete scientific findings to support the claims made.
Anecdotal evidence from gastroenterologists that they have seen an increase in patients reporting symptoms of bloating.
The article attributes the trend of discussing bloating to a rise in consumption of ultraprocessed foods with high quantities of gluten or fructose, as well as greater awareness or discussions of bloating due to social media.
Bias
(95%)
The article does not contain any clear examples of bias towards a specific political, religious, ideological or monetary position. However, the author does use language that may be perceived as normalizing bloating and making it seem less taboo. This could potentially be seen as an example of cultural bias or societal norms shifting towards accepting bloating as a common issue rather than something to be ashamed of.
It was women sticking out their stomachs. It was a reclaiming, like it is cool to be bloated.
Nadya Okamoto documented her distended belly due to bloating in a video that amassed 3.8 million views.
Many young women are documenting and discussing bloating on TikTok, often attributing it to menstruation or constipation.
Around 158,000 TikTok posts feature the #bloating or #bloated hashtags.
Accuracy
]Many young women discuss and document bloating on TikTok, often attributing it to menstruation or constipation.[
Deception
(30%)
The article contains several examples of selective reporting and emotional manipulation. The author focuses on the anecdotes of women discussing bloating on TikTok without providing any context or statistics about the prevalence or causes of bloating. This creates a sensationalized and misleading impression that bloating is a new and widespread issue, when in fact it has been discussed for decades. Additionally, the author uses phrases like 'mysterious and painful' to elicit an emotional response from readers without providing any evidence or explanation for why bloating is mysterious or painful. This type of manipulation can create unnecessary fear and anxiety among readers.
Around 158,000 TikTok posts feature the #bloating or #bloated hashtags.
Nadya Okamoto had the perfect costume for her friend’s Rihanna-themed birthday party: a likeness of the pregnant pop star in black lingerie, based on her iconic outfit at Paris Fashion Week. Okamoto was not pregnant but her belly was distended: ‘I literally had a watermelon-sized bloat,’ she said.
Fallacies
(85%)
The article discusses a valid health concern and provides information on potential causes and treatments. However, it does contain some inflammatory rhetoric and appeals to authority. Additionally, there are examples of dichotomous depictions.
. . . the recent uptick is part of a broader focus on gut health, arising from research about the importance of good bacteria in the gut.
A majority of people with irritable bowel syndrome report bloating as a symptom, and women are more likely to have these issues.
BelliWelli makes snack bars advertising “zero bloat” for people with gut issues.
Bloating is a common issue that can be uncomfortable and may signal a more serious health concern, such as ovarian cancer.
Consuming a chronically low amount of calories or not eating regularly may cause the body to lack the energy required for intestines to move stool and result in bloating.
Drinking enough water is important for passing stool and avoiding bloating, especially for those following a high-fibre diet.
Physical activity aids in moving stool through the bowel and can help prevent bloating. Desk-bound jobs may make it more difficult to move stools and lead to bloating.
Avoiding excessive amounts of fizzy drinks, alcohol, caffeine, processed foods, sugary foods, spicy foods, large meals late at night before bed and consuming food you know you’re intolerant to can help prevent bloating.
Consult a GP if experiencing bloating for three weeks or longer despite diet changes or if experiencing additional symptoms such as being sick, diarrhea, constipation, weight loss or blood in stool.
Accuracy
Not eating enough or eating inconsistently can lead to bloating due to the intestines needing energy to move stool.
Consuming a chronically low amount of calories or not eating regularly may cause the body to lack the energy required for this process and result in bloating.
Deception
(80%)
The article by Liam Gilliver discusses the potential causes of bloating and mentions that it could be a warning sign for ovarian cancer. While there is no deception in this statement, the author later makes an unfounded claim that not eating enough or not eating regularly can lead to bloating. This is selective reporting as the article does not mention any scientific studies or evidence to support this claim. The author also states that those following a high-fibre diet may struggle with bloating if they're not drinking enough water, which is a valid point but doesn't constitute deception.
This is because the intestines actually use a lot of energy to pulse - we call it Paracelsus - to move the stool from the intestines out.
Sometimes not eating enough or eating consistently enough can lead to bloating...
Those with desk-bound jobs may also struggle more with bowel movements as physical activity aids in moving the stool through the bowel, leading to bloating.
