Bubble Gut: A Cautionary Tale

Last Updated on September 11, 2020

You might not have heard of bubble gut, but for people in the bodybuilding or weightlifting fields, it’s a known concept.

Steroids were a common part of bodybuilding in the late 20th century. Now, using insulin and human growth hormone (HGH) is more common. It’s not a good idea to take insulin unless you have a medical requirement for this hormone.

However, both insulin and HGH are used to make it easier to build up muscle. Some competitors are taking 120 units or more per day in order to bulk up. Unfortunately, this can cause a problem with the internal organs.

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HGH can cause the mesentery, the lining of the gut, to grow faster normal. As a result, the bodybuilder can end up with what looks like a “bubble” in their gut.

When a person takes HGH, they end up paying the price. And these side effects can be quite devastating. Of course, unless you’re taking HGH, there is no reason to worry about bubble gut.

People who need HGH for medical conditions, usually only take one to two units, if that. They certainly won’t be taking ten units at a time. It’s only when the dosage of the hormone is increased to those levels that bubble gut becomes an issue.

Sources:

• https://www.healthline.com/health/palumboism
• https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29932857/