About 11% of the world's population - one in ten people - often experience abdominal pain when eating (more than half as much), according to a new international scientific study.
The problem is more common in women (13%) than in men (9%), as well as in younger people aged 18 to 28 (15%). The study, led by Dr. Lester Colomier of the universities KU Leuven (Belgium) and Gothenburg (Sweden), based on an online sample survey of 54.127 people from 26 countries, was presented at an international conference of the European organization GastroenterU Virtual 2021).
People who frequently experience food-related abdominal pain are also more likely to experience bloating or bloating in the abdomen, excessive or premature satiety after eating, irritable bowel syndrome, constipation or diarrhea (the last two symptoms in 30%, versus 10% among those who do not have frequent abdominal pain).
In addition, they are more likely to have more psychological stress and non-gastrointestinal psychosomatic symptoms, such as lower back pain, shortness of breath, etc. 36% feel anxious (compared to 18% of those who do not have abdominal pain due to food) and 35% have symptoms of depression (compared to 17% of those who do not feel abdominal pain).