How often you should poo each week, according to scientists
It's always a tad awkward discussing what goes on in the toilet, but it's important to check in from time to time to make sure everything's in check health-wise.
Now, all of us have to poo, that's a given, but just how many times should you be answering nature's call every week?
Well, a new poll from Cushelle reckons the average Brit heads to the loo six times a day, clocking just over five minutes per visit.
But when we're specifically talking about number twos, the numbers change quite a bit.
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Data from Zoe’s 2023 'Big Poo Review' shows people going anywhere from once a week to four times a day.
Diet, stress, hydration and routine all play a part, so a bit of fluctuation isn’t exactly shocking. However, if your usual pattern suddenly goes rogue and stays that way, it might be worth paying attention.
Dr Marie Edison, head of medical policy at Vitality Health, explained to Metro: "The key thing to remember is that you don’t need to try and force your body into a schedule, but to pay attention to how it’s behaving over time.
"If you suddenly find yourself having much more frequent bowel movements, suffering from constipation, or experiencing symptoms like pain, bloating, or bloody or black stools, you should speak to a doctor to ensure nothing more serious is going on."
So what actually counts as 'normal'?
A 2024 study from the Institute for Systems Biology found that having two bowel movements a week sits in constipation territory.
Meanwhile, three to six is low-normal, while one to three a day lands in high-normal.
Anything more than that falls under diarrhoea.
The sweet spot, dubbed the 'Goldilocks zone', is going once or twice a day as people in that range came out looking healthiest overall, with better gut bacteria linked to lower inflammation.
Microbiologist Sean Gibbons, who led the study, outlined: "Based on what we were looking at, pooping every other day to a couple of times a day is probably a better window to be healthy."
On either end of the scale, things get a bit less ideal as those going less often were more likely to show toxins in their blood linked to issues like chronic kidney disease and Alzheimer’s. Meanwhile, frequent diarrhoea was associated with biomarkers tied to liver damage.
Lifestyle seems to be a big part of it as the Goldilocks crowd tended to eat more fibre, drink more water and move their bodies more.
If you’re going less than once every five days, Dr Delphine Sekri, GP at St John & St Elizabeth Hospital, says it could point to constipation.
"That can mean bloating, stomach aches, and that uncomfortable 'heavy' feeling," she explained. "It can also lead to piles… or anal fissures… In both cases, you might spot bright red blood when you wipe."
On the flip side, going too often isn’t exactly convenient either, as it could be down to caffeine overload, certain meds, or conditions like IBS or coeliac disease.
Dr Sekri adds: "Skin irritation, burning and general discomfort are common here, especially if it’s happening a lot. There’s also the practical side — needing to be constantly near a toilet isn’t exactly ideal."
At the end of the day, everyone’s 'normal' looks slightly different, but, as Dr Sekri puts it: "The real benchmark is what feels right for your body."
Still, if something feels off or you notice blood, don’t ignore it.
It's best to chat with your GP if you're concerned about anything, as an awkward chat is far better than dealing with what could have been an easily avoidable problem!
Rhiannon Ingle