The Popular Fart Myth That's Easily Debunked By Science

If you're wanting to burn a few extra calories, going for a brisk walk or heading to the gym are effective ways to do so, but according to an internet claim, there is a much easier way: farting. Viral videos on social media suggest that breaking wind is a simple way to increase your calorie expenditure, burning between 57 and 67 calories per fart, and even claiming that repeatedly passing gas throughout the day can burn as much as a pound of fat. However, before you make plans to abandon all of your social graces and make farting your new hobby, the science suggests that there is no truth in this viral claim at all.

The clue to how many calories a fart could burn is in how easy it is to do. Not only does it require almost no effort, but farts can often slip out on their own unintentionally, which a workout at the gym never seems to do. While it is true that when you are farting, you are burning calories, that is simply because you always are, even when asleep. There are three ways that your body burns calories: resting, extracting energy from food, and physical exercise. Breathing, sending blood around your body, and kidney and liver function all require energy, so calories are burned as your body carries these out.

There are no scientific studies to show that farting would burn more calories than usual, since unlike physical exercise, it is a passive process. As the gas from fermented foods builds up in the digestive system, it escapes through the external sphincter, unless you actively attempt to hold it in.

Although farting doesn't have an impact on the calories you burn, it could help you feel, and even look slimmer. Built-up gas is a very common cause of bloating, and releasing it can reduce the swollen abdomen that often appears after a large meal or too many carbonated drinks. As the gas is released, the pressure will be relieved too, and you can often notice a significant difference in how clothes fit, as well as a reduction in discomfort.

There are two main sources of intestinal gas — swallowed air and gas produced by bacteria in your intestines. Eating too fast, drinking through a straw, and chewing gum can all cause bloating through swallowing excess air, while certain foods such as broccoli, cabbage, and the infamous baked beans can all cause increased intestinal gas. This happens because the carbohydrates in these foods are not easily broken down before reaching the intestines, where bacteria then cause them to ferment, which produces gas in the process.

Farting is totally normal, and the average is more often than you might think, with a recent study measuring 32 instances per day with the use of fart-sensing smart underwear. So if you are feeling bloated, there is nothing wrong with letting out a few to relieve the pressure and help you feel like yourself again. But if you were thinking that you could ditch the weekend workout and spend the day farting on the couch instead, unfortunately this is one internet trend that is going to disappoint.