Is it unhealthy to hold in your belly?

Why we hold back our bellies

For some, holding in the stomach is a learned behavior to appear slimmer, for others it is a basic tension in the body that also manifests itself in other places, such as in the neck, shoulder, back, pelvic floor and glutes. . In addition to not good for mental health — because the idea that your body isn’t good enough continues to be nourished, it’s also bad for your physical health to pull in your belly.

Consequences of holding back

According to stress consultant and physiotherapist Raf Frateur, it is much better to give your stomach room to breathe. “The freedom of movement of the diaphragm is considerably limited,” Frateur tells The last news. “The diaphragm is our main respiratory muscle. It is responsible for our abdominal breathing and supports the functioning of our stomach and intestines. If you can no longer breathe deeply into your belly, you will breathe higher and shallower. This makes you more nervous, agitated, more restless. You can even hyperventilate — often unnoticed.”

And that’s not all: “In addition, our diaphragm movement is ‘the masseur’ of our stomach and intestines,” Frateur continues. “If we constantly pull in our stomach, we counteract this masseur and a lot of digestive complaints can arise.”

Problems in bed

According to sex therapist Rosie Rees, many people don’t even know that they are holding in their stomachs, Rees tells Body and Soul. “People have become so used to it, from childhood, that it feels normal.” According to Rees, holding in the belly can even cause problems in bed. The pelvic floor is activated too much, so that especially people with a vulva will have difficulty getting an orgasm.

So try to relax the next time you find yourself holding in your stomach. Besides the fact that it is not necessary, it is also healthier.