Question: What is gastroparesis?
Answer: Gastroparesis, also called delayed gastric emptying, is a disorder that slows or stops the movement of food from your stomach to your small intestine. Normally, after you swallow food, the muscles in the wall of your stomach grind the food into smaller pieces and push them into your small intestine to continue digestion. When you have gastroparesis, your stomach muscles work poorly or not at all, and your stomach takes too long to empty its contents. Gastroparesis can delay digestion, which can lead to various symptoms and complications.
Question: How common is gastroparesis?
Answer: Gastroparesis is not common. Out of 100,000 people, about 10 men and about 40 women have gastroparesis1. However, symptoms that are similar to those of gastroparesis occur in about 1 out of 4 adults in the United States2, 3.
Question: Who is more likely to get gastroparesis?
Answer: You are more likely to get gastroparesis if you

havediabetes
had surgery on youresophagus, stomach, or small intestine, which may injure thevagus nerve. The vagus nerve controls the muscles of the stomach and small intestine.
had certain cancer treatments, such asradiation therapyon your chest or stomach area
Question: What other health problems do people with gastroparesis have?
Answer: People with gastroparesis may have other health problems, such as

diabetes
scleroderma
hypothyroidism
nervous system disorders, such asmigraine,Parkinson’s disease, andmultiple sclerosis
gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
eating disorders
amyloidosis
Question: What are the complications of gastroparesis?
Answer: Complications of gastroparesis may include

dehydrationdue to repeatedvomiting
malnutritiondue to poor absorption ofnutrients
blood glucose, also called blood sugar, levels that are harder to control, which can worsen diabetes
lowcalorieintake
bezoars
losing weight without trying
lower quality of life