What Is Gastroparesis?

Gastroparesis is a long-term condition in which the stomach empties its contents into the small intestine too slowly, even though nothing is physically blocking the way. The delay leads to nausea, fullness, and bloating. It can be managed, and this page explains the basics and points you toward the next step.

What is gastroparesis?

Gastroparesis, sometimes called gastroparalysis or stomach paralysis, means the muscles of the stomach do not move food along as they should. In a healthy stomach, strong muscle contractions push food into the small intestine. When those contractions slow or weaken, food stays in the stomach too long. Doctors call this delayed gastric emptying. The word gastroparesis comes from gastro, meaning stomach, and paresis, meaning partial paralysis or weakness, which describes a stomach that is sluggish rather than fully stopped.

What are the other names for gastroparesis?

Several names point to the same condition, which can be confusing when you are reading about it. It is the medical term that most doctors and health organizations use. Gastroparalysis and stomach paralysis are older, more literal names for it. The stomach is weak and slow rather than truly paralyzed, so these terms overstate the problem slightly. Delayed gastric emptying describes what actually happens and often appears in test results. You may also see it written as gastric stasis. All of these refer to a stomach that does not empty on a normal schedule.

What are the symptoms?

The most common symptoms are nausea, vomiting, feeling full after only a few bites, bloating, and discomfort in the upper abdomen. Some people lose weight because eating becomes difficult, and others find that blood sugar becomes harder to control. Symptoms range from mild and occasional to severe and daily. Because they overlap with many other digestive problems, the condition is often identified only after a doctor rules out other causes. For a fuller picture, see our guide to gastroparesis symptoms.

What causes gastroparesis?

The most common identified cause is diabetes, which over time can damage the vagus nerve that controls the stomach muscles. In many people, no cause is ever found. This is called idiopathic gastroparesis. Other causes include some surgeries on the stomach or esophagus, certain medications that slow digestion, and a range of nervous system and connective tissue disorders. Finding the cause matters because it can change treatment. Our pages on causes and diabetic gastroparesis go into more detail.

How is gastroparesis diagnosed?

Diagnosis usually starts with a review of your symptoms and a physical exam, followed by tests that measure how fast the stomach empties. The most common test is a gastric emptying study, in which you eat a small meal containing a trace of a safe radioactive material so a scanner can track how quickly it leaves the stomach. Doctors may also use a breath test or a small wireless capsule that records its trip through the gut. An upper endoscopy is often done first to make sure nothing is blocking the stomach. See how gastroparesis is diagnosed for the full process.

How is gastroparesis treated and managed?

There is no single cure, but most people improve with a combination of diet changes, medication, and treatment of the underlying cause. Eating smaller, low-fat, low-fiber meals is usually the first step, because it asks less of a slow stomach. Medications can ease nausea or help the stomach contract, and a smaller number of people need procedures or a feeding tube when symptoms are severe. Managing diabetes well, when it is the cause, often helps the stomach too. Start with gastroparesis treatment and the gastroparesis diet.

Sources

NIDDK (National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases), Definition and Facts for Gastroparesis and Symptoms and Causes of Gastroparesis (niddk.nih.gov), for the definition, symptoms, and causes. Mayo Clinic, Gastroparesis (mayoclinic.org), for the diagnosis and treatment overview. Cleveland Clinic, Gastroparesis (my.clevelandclinic.org), for terminology and day-to-day management. This page is general health information, not medical advice. Talk to your doctor about your own care. Last reviewed June 2026.