Jet Belly happens because airplane cabins are pressurised at a level lower than sea level.

Ever notice that uncomfortable bloated, crampy or gassy feeling while flying? That's what experts call jet belly. Dr. Brennan Spiegel from UCLA explains that this happens because airplane cabins are pressurised at a level lower than sea level. As a result, the gas inside your digestive tract expands -- similar to how a sealed snack packet swells mid-air. Think of your stomach like a balloon, slowly inflating as the plane gains altitude.

As stated by Times of India, a landmark study from 1969 demonstrated that abdominal gas could increase more than fourfold between takeoff and cruising altitude when participants refrained from releasing it. This expansion can cause mild discomfort or in some cases, severe pain -- particularly in individuals with digestive conditions such as Crohn's disease or colitis. On top of that, the dry cabin air contributes to dehydration, slowing down digestion and allowing gas to accumulate. Add hours of sitting in one position and you have the perfect storm for digestive distress mid-flight.

Dr. Spiegel shared practical strategies to manage and reduce jet belly during flights, as reported by the New York Post.