# What causes "Ethiopian Pot Belly"?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-causes-ethiopian-pot-belly/71196>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [July 4, 2001, 10:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-causes-ethiopian-pot-belly/71196 "2001-07-04T10:24:55Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Showing post:** 12

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**Author:** ![KarlGauss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/karlgauss/32/3713_2.png) [@KarlGauss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGauss)\
**Post date:** [July 6, 2001, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-causes-ethiopian-pot-belly/71196/12 "2001-07-06T18:37:08Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by enolancooper \*  
> \*\*Its a swollen liver.  
> \*\*

**enolancooper** is correct. The primary cause for the swollen belly is that the liver is enlarged. As mentioned above, the low protein in the blood, and the subsequent leakage of fluid into the abdomen, makes things even worse.

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