
Many people think a growling stomach means hunger, but that's not always true. The sound is caused by muscles moving food, liquid, and air through your digestive system. It can happen whether your stomach is full or empty.
The noise simply becomes louder when the stomach is empty because there is less food to absorb the sound. So a growling stomach is actually a sign that your digestive system is working.
© National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases