Bloating feels like a sensation of fullness, tightness, or pressure in the belly. People often describe it as their stomach feeling uncomfortably full, swollen, or tight, sometimes as if they have a balloon or something trapped inside their abdomen. This feeling can range from mildly uncomfortable to intensely painful and may or may not be accompanied by a visibly distended or swollen abdomen. Some also experience tenderness or pain along with the fullness

. Additional common sensations associated with bloating include:

• A feeling of trapped gas
• Belly rumbling or noises
• Increased passing of gas (flatulence)
• Sometimes a noticeable increase in waist or abdominal girth (distension)

Bloating often results from excess gas in the digestive tract, overeating, eating too quickly, food intolerances, hormonal changes, or digestive conditions like irritable bowel syndrome. It may also be accompanied by other symptoms such as changes in bowel habits or abdominal discomfort

. In summary, bloating feels like a tight, full, and sometimes painful sensation in the stomach, often described as pressure or swelling that can make the belly look and feel larger than usual