Bloating and belly fat may appear to be one and the same at first glance, but they are actually very, very different.

So how can you tell one from the other? We called in board-certified gastroenterologist Dr. Roshini Raj to tell us!

"Sometimes it's not that easy to distinguish," the doc admits, "but there are some clues here."

"When you feel bloated," she continues, "it's really that your abdomen is being filled up with air."

RELATED: What Causes Bloating?

Which is why if you're bloated, the doctor explains, you'll get a tense "drum feeling" when you touch your stomach. If fat is the culprit, on the other hand, your stomach will feel "much more dense."

(Watch her demonstrate the difference with balloons in the video above!)

Not to mention that if you tend to bloat, you’re more likely to wake up with a flatter stomach and notice changes as the day goes on.

As for belly fat, that stays consistent throughout the day and night -- so a lack of change may be an indication.

Curious about how to reduce bloating? Find out how here!