Why Your Belly Bloats the Minute It Gets Hot

Ever step outside on a blazing day and feel like your stomach instantly went up a jeans size? Same. Heat-wave belly bloat can hit anyone—especially those of us who are already prone to puffiness. Here’s what’s going on (minus the full science lecture):

• Dehydration slows everything down
  Hot weather makes you sweat more, leaving less water for your gut. When things get dry inside, digestion crawls and gas hangs around—cue that puffy feeling.

• Blood flow gets rerouted
  Your body sends extra blood to the skin to keep you cool, so your digestive tract gets the leftovers. Food moves more slowly, and trapped gas can build up.

• Heat can cause fluid retention
  Warm temps make blood vessels widen, letting a little fluid leak into tissues (hello, ankle swell). That same mild “heat edema” can leave your midsection feeling swollen, too.

• Summer snacks sneak in extra bloat fuel
  Fizzy drinks, ice cream, and salty BBQ sauces—carbonation, fructose, and sodium all love to puff you up.

Dressing for a Happier Middle

• Bloat-friendly jeans
  If you’re still rocking denim in the summer—or at the office—our relaxed waistband won’t squeeze your belly and gives you plenty of breathing room. (Some die-hard g+d fans even turn theirs into cut-off shorts!) Of course, if jeans feel like a no-go in sweltering heat, we totally get it.
  

• Elastic-waist shorts
  We know it’s roasting—our own shorts are high on the launch list! Until they drop, stick with any soft, stretchy pair. Current favorites: Old Navy, Gap and Rag & Bone.

• Breezy dresses
  A-line, sheath, or any silhouette that makes you feel good and lets the air flow.

Here’s to fewer waistband battles and more chilled-out summer days. Stay cool out there!

P.S. If you have IBS, registered dietitian Erin Judge just wrote a blog about why symptoms can flare in the heat—check it out here for a deeper dive.