Some people suggest that farting may burn calories, but no research supports these claims. Farting may help relieve intestinal gas and bloating, but it’s unlikely to burn calories.

Farting, also known as flatulence, is one way in which your body releases the excess gas in your intestines caused by diet, swallowing air, or certain medical conditions.

According to the Canadian Society of Intestinal Research (CSIR), people pass gas an average of 12 to 25 times daily.

A popular internet claim from 2015 stated that one fart burned 67 calories and that farting 52 times a day would burn 1 pound of fat.

However, no research supports this myth.

Farting may help relieve excess gas and symptoms of bloating, which can make us feel lighter or slimmer.

Keep reading to learn more about how farting may possibly burn calories and how to relieve intestinal gas.

The process of burning calories (units of energy) per day is known as total energy expenditure (TEE). There are three categories of TEE:

  • Resting energy expenditure (REE): The calories used to perform basic bodily functions, such as breathing.
  • Thermogenesis of food (TEF): The calories used to digest, absorb, and metabolize foods.
  • Nonresting energy expenditure (NREE): The calories used during physical activities, which includes intentional activities like exercising and nonintentional activities like walking.

No research has examined the exact ways in which passing wind may burn calories or if it fits into a TEE category.

The digestive tract comprises several organs and muscles that contract and relax to help break down food and move gas through the intestines. Eventually, excess gas passes through the anus as a fart.

Excessive gas is mostly due to diet, which may affect TEF. For instance, certain foods may be harder to digest, which may influence the contracting and relaxing process of the digestive muscles and lead to more farting.

However, it’s important to note that no research has determined whether farting itself contributes to TEF or whether it burns any calories.

The only way you might burn any calories when passing gas is if you strain to fart because you’re actively engaging your muscles. This may be considered NREE.

However, straining is not healthy, and any calories burned would be negligible — maybe one or two. It’s not enough to make any difference in your health.

If we don’t burn calories when we fart, then why do we sometimes feel slimmer after? Experts suggest that passing wind is one of the body’s natural ways of relieving intestinal gas, which is the most common cause of bloating.

According to the American College of Gastroenterology, abdominal bloating and symptoms like farting are usually caused by swallowing excess air and some dietary factors.

The enzymes in your digestive system can’t break down some foods. When they reach your intestines, they metabolize into several gasses, which may cause bloating.

Common causes of abdominal bloating and flatulence may include:

Learn more about the possible causes of flatulence.

To help prevent bloating and excessive farting, try eating more slowly and avoiding trigger foods and beverages. Exercising regularly and drinking peppermint tea may also help relieve symptoms.

Consider speaking with a healthcare professional if:

  • natural remedies don’t help
  • you have a medical condition
  • you experience chewing difficulties

A doctor could recommend over-the-counter treatments to help relieve symptoms or modify your current treatment plan to prevent excessive flatulence.

Is farting healthy or unhealthy?

Farting is a healthy process that everyone does to help release excess gas in the intestines.

Consider speaking with a healthcare professional if you experience frequent, excessive farting that doesn’t improve with lifestyle and dietary remedies. This may be a sign of an underlying health condition, such as food intolerance.

Is it normal to fart a lot when dieting?

Making dietary changes could affect your digestive tract, which may lead to farting more often. For instance, a 2020 study of 164 people found that diets high in protein and fiber were more likely to cause bloating compared to diets high in carbohydrates.

Passing gas is a normal bodily process. It can make you feel less bloated if you’re experiencing a gas buildup in your gut.

However, it’s unlikely that farting can burn calories, despite popular claims on the internet.

You can try eating more slowly and avoiding trigger foods and beverages to help prevent bloating and excessive farting. Regular exercise and drinking peppermint tea may also help.