With the gnawing emptiness that follows a skipped lunch, or a day of fasting in preparation for a big meal, you might wonder if that rumbling stomach of yours is actually capable of shrinking with hunger. After all, it sometimes feels like it.
The idea that our stomachs can shrink is thrown around often, especially in the context of dieting to curb appetite or by medications promising weight loss. Sure, you can lose weight and body fat, but does that mean your stomach has changed sizes, too? To answer this question, understanding how the organ and digestive process actually operates is a good first step.
What Causes Hunger Sensations?
Your stomach is the muscular organ seated in the upper portion of your abdomen. Its main purpose is to act as a temporary storage and processing unit for food on its way through the gastrointestinal (GI) tract.
In the stretches of time when you haven’t yet eaten, the empty stomach is physically contracted. Folds called rugae line its walls, resembling an accordion. These folds are ready to flatten out and expand whenever the stomach has to relax and make room for incoming meals.
