We think that happens very often with the reality of daily life. You could even believe munching on your feet isn’t a big problem. After all, most of us are attempting to sit less and take more daily steps, aren’t we?
Dr. Peyton Berookim, MD, FACG, a board-certified gastroenterologist at the Gastroenterology Institute of Southern California, evaluates the advantages and disadvantages of eating while standing upright.
Is Eating Standing Up Beneficial?
Standing while eating may help relieve symptoms of acid reflux, one of the most prevalent GI ailments, according to Dr. Berookim. According to him, acid reflux happens when increased pressure in the stomach causes stomach contents (including food, acid, and digestive fluids) to go back into the esophagus. Symptoms include a burning feeling in the mid-chest (heartburn) or throat, a sour taste in the mouth, and burping.
When you lay down after eating, your risk of acid reflux increases. Dr. Berookim explains that in this horizontal posture, food and acid may easily flow back from your stomach into your neck, which is at the same level. Standing, on the other hand, relieves strain on your tummy. This implies that a burning backwash is less prevalent in this eating-while-standing situation, which means less acid reflux and heartburn, according to Dr. Berookim.
Eating While Standing Can Be Harmful in Two Ways
- It may cause gas and bloat.
Standing up while eating, popularly known as ‘buffet eating,’ frequently means eating more quickly,” Dr. Berookim explains. However, eating at warp speed increases your chances of swallowing more air, which might lead to additional gas in your stomach.
- It may result in overeating.
People who eat while standing eat quicker, and this faster pace leads to shorter total mealtimes, according to Dr. Berookim. The issue is that this may induce overeating for a variety of reasons. Dr. Berookim notes that “standing when eating is frequently followed by activity (since the individual is presumably on the go), which encourages quicker digestion and may leave one feeling hungry sooner.”
Second, you are more likely to be distracted when you eat quickly and on the go. And if you don’t concentrate on your meal or appreciate each mouthful, chances are you’ll feel less satiated and full (read: you’ll be prowling around the cupboard in an hour or two). Dr. Berookim, on the other hand, believes that “the more time one has to chew one’s food, the less likely they are to overeat.”
So, how bad is eating while standing really?
“In the end, it’s your option whether to sit or stand,” Dr. Berookim explains. “Either technique is OK,” he continues, “but the most important thing is to be mindful when eating and be in touch with what your body requires.”
According to research published in Diabetes Spectrum, persons who practice mindful eating — a strategy that entails paying attention to food and being completely present while eating – eat less, enjoy eating more, and choose more nutritious meals.
