New survey shows bloating is caused by unhealthy lifestyle!

Published: 7 September 2005

In a new survey (1), carried out by the Grain Information Service, 20% of the population claim to suffer from bloating. Bloating is unsightly and uncomfortable and can cause considerable concern for consumers, especially women. Many believe that bloating is caused by irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and frequently claim they have a wheat intolerance. The problem is made worse by well meaning advice from unqualified celebrities promoting bizarre detox diets, and so called health gurus who advise long-term elimination diets.
 
IBS symptoms can vary but typically include bloating, spasm, lower abdominal pain, diarrhoea and/or constipation.  Bloating does not automatically mean you have IBS.  In fact it is more likely to be caused by lifestyle and dietary factors. The survey demonstrated that rather than wheat, the main causes of bloating were monthly female hormone fluctuations (32%), over-eating / irregular meal patterns (28%) and stress related indigestion (27%).

Even when specific foods were blamed, wheat did not feature as a culprit.
The most common foods to trigger bloating included the consumption of too much fruit, spicy foods and fizzy drinks - all of which can cause abdominal gas and bloating.  Additional causes of bloating included constipation, which can be caused by a lack of dietary fibre and low fluid intake. This type of bloating can be easily helped by drinking at least 8-10 cups of water a day and eating more fibre rich foods such as wholemeal bread and high fibre breakfast cereals.

Luci Daniels, Registered Dietitian and ex-Chairman of the British Dietetic Association said, "Bloating and IBS like symptoms can be aggravated by a poor diet in general, erratic eating habits, long gaps between meals and by smoking and drinking large amounts of alcohol or coffee on an empty stomach. It is often worth making a few simple lifestyle changes before eliminating important food groups"

Most people feel full at lunch, in the evening or after a heavy meal.  Eating small regular meals ensure that the stomach never gets overloaded.  Irregular meal patterns and an unexpected large meal with a lot of fluid can end up stretching the stomach muscles causing it to expand and 'bloat'. Not eating breakfast and then eating a large lunch can have the same effect.

To clarify the current confusion regarding abdominal bloating and suspected wheat intolerance, a new consumer leaflet has been produced and will be available to order by calling 020 7 493 2521 or can be downloaded from the website: www.wheatintolerance.co.uk.

Notes to editors:

1. The survey on 'causes of bloating' was carried out by Kember Associates, on behalf of the Flour Advisory Bureau and Grain information Service, between April and May 2005. 500 men and women between 18-65 years old were questioned across the UK.

2. The Grain Information Service is an industry collective set up to deal with generic issues concerning wheat products. For more information about the Grain Information Service visit www.wheatintolerance.co.uk

3. The six foods which most commonly produce adverse reactions are EGGS, PEANUTS, MILK, SOY, NUTS and SHELLFISH, although the finger of blame continues to point at wheat.

4. Studies have shown that despite 20% of the population thinking they have a food allergy less than 1.5% of adults actually suffer from any adverse reaction to food. Self-diagnosis is in part to blame for this huge discrepancy, with vast numbers of people eliminating nutritious foods, such as dairy and wheat, from their diet and putting their health at risk.

5. It is well known amongst the scientific community that self-diagnosis tests carried out in health food shops, bought off the internet or in the form of self-testing kits are often not based on good scientific evidence, are not reliable and frequently lead to incorrect results, due to the high incidence of false and positive negatives.

6. Self-testing kits can obscure the real reason for a health problem and encourage consumers to take matters into their own hands when they should be seeking possible treatment from their GP. For this reason independent sources such as the British Dietetic Association and the Food Standards Agency advise consumers not to self-diagnose but to see their GP.

7. How do you know who is the best person to talk to? Not all so-called 'experts' are actually qualified in nutrition and dietetics.  When looking for someone to consult about a suspected food allergy, consult only the following:
-  A General Practitioner (GP)
-  A Registered Dietitian: qualified dietitians tend to work for the NHS and are usually   accessed through your GP
-  A Registered Nutritionist with a minimum degree level qualification in nutrition plus a minimum of 3 years experience. Look out for the letters Rnutr (Registered Nutritionist) or RPHNutr (Registered Public Health Nutritionist) and registration with the Nutrition Society.