Gastroparesis, also called delayed gastric emptying, is a disorder in which the stomach takes too long to empty its contents.

The most common cause of gastroparesis is diabetes.

Some other causes of gastroparesis are
• surgery on the stomach or vagus nerve
• viral infections
• anorexia nervosa or bulimia
• medications—anticholinergics and narcotics—that slow contractions in the intestine
• gastroesophageal reflux disease
• smooth muscle disorders, such as amyloidosis and scleroderma
• nervous system diseases, including abdominal migraine and Parkinson’s disease
• metabolic disorders, including hypothyroidism

Signs and symptoms of gastroparesis are
• heartburn
• pain in the upper abdomen
• nausea
• vomiting of undigested food—sometimes several hours after a meal
• early feeling of fullness after only a few bites of food
• weight loss due to poor absorption of nutrients or low calorie intake
• abdominal bloating
• high and low blood glucose levels
• lack of appetite
• gastroesophageal reflux
• spasms in the stomach area