The Truth About Farting and Calorie Burn

If you’ve ever heard that farting burns 67 calories per release, you're not alone. This viral myth has been floating around the internet since at least 2009 but despite its staying power, there’s no scientific evidence to support it.

So, does farting actually burn calories? Let’s break it down.

Farting and Calories: The Truth

The short answer No, farting does not burn a meaningful number of calories. Passing gas is mostly a passive process involving your digestive system and two anal sphincters rings of muscle that open and close to release gas.

• The internal sphincter is involuntary and opens automatically when needed.

• The external sphincter is under voluntary control, helping you hold in gas when necessary.

Unless you're forcefully straining to suppress or release a fart (which most people don't), your body isn’t exerting enough energy to significantly impact your calorie burn. While technically everything the body does uses some amount of energy, farting uses such a small amount that it’s essentially negligible in terms of weight loss or metabolism.

Farting Is Normal and Actually Beneficial

While it won’t slim your waistline, farting plays an important role in digestive health. On average, people pass gas 8 to 14 times a day, and up to 25 times is still considered normal.

Some benefits of farting include:

• Releasing trapped gas and pressure in the digestive tract

• Preventing bloating and discomfort

• Relieving abdominal pain

• Signaling digestive health (gas from high-fiber foods like beans and veggies can indicate a balanced diet)

• Indicating food intolerances or issues like lactose intolerance or irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)

What Causes Gas in the First Place?

Intestinal gas comes from two primary sources:

1. Swallowed air, often from:

   • Eating too quickly

   • Drinking carbonated beverages

   • Chewing gum

   • Using a straw

   • Talking while eating

   • Smoking

   • Anxiety-related swallowing

2. Fermentation by gut bacteria, which occurs when undigested carbs especially those found in high-FODMAP foods are broken down in the colon. This process creates gas as a byproduct.

High-FODMAP foods known to cause gas include:

• Beans and lentils

• Onions, garlic, asparagus

• Apples, pears, peaches

• Milk, ice cream, and yogurt

• Wheat-based products

• Sugar alcohols (sorbitol, mannitol)

When Gas Might Be a Symptom of Something More

Most of the time, farting is harmless. But if you're experiencing other symptoms like bloating, cramping, or changes in your stool, it may be worth talking to your healthcare provider.

Excess gas can be related to conditions such as:

• Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)

• Food intolerances (especially lactose or gluten)

• Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO)

• Gastroparesis

• Constipation or bowel obstruction

• Malabsorption syndromes, like celiac disease

How to Manage Excess Gas

If gas is causing you discomfort or embarrassment consider these tips:

• Eat slowly and chew thoroughly

• Avoid chewing gum and carbonated drinks

• Try a low-FODMAP diet (under supervision)

• Track food and symptoms to identify triggers

• Consider probiotics to support gut health

• Use digestive enzymes, such as lactase or alpha-galactosidase (Beano)

• Drink herbal teas, like peppermint or chamomile

• Try a gentle walk after meals, which can aid digestion and reduce bloating

Some people also find relief with OTC products like simethicone or bismuth subsalicylate (Pepto-Bismol), which help reduce gas bubbles or odor.

The Bottom Line

Farting doesn’t burn calories, but that doesn’t mean it’s useless. In fact, it plays a healthy role in digestion and can offer clues about your overall gut health. If you’re frequently uncomfortable, bloated, or noticing other GI symptoms, it’s worth talking to a healthcare provider to rule out underlying issues.

But as for weight loss? Better stick to movement, muscle-building, and mindful eating that’s where the real calorie burn happens.

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