Dr. Oz -- What's Up With Your Noodle?

Dr. Oz is reeeeeeealllllyyyy excited about his pasta ... judging by the southern bulge he appeared to be sporting during a photo shoot for "Good Housekeeping" ... OR IS IT???

The Internet has been buzzing ever since this photo surfaced in the April edition of GH ... which appears to show the doc enjoying magnum-sized bites of pasta ... while pitching a khaki tent.

Some people think Oz's anatomy is to blame ... others believe it's simply an optical illusion created by a crease in his pants.

We called Oz's people to get the long and short of the photo mystery -- but so far, their lips are sealed.