Find out if the amount of bowel movements you have is normal

The researchers explain that the number of times you go to the toilet directly affects your long-term health. Having a bowel movement three times a day to three times a week is considered normal, but less than that can be a sign of decreased kidney function. On the other hand, having a bowel movement more often than average can indicate liver problems.Both frequent and infrequent bowel movements can have long-term health consequences.

“Overall, this study shows how bowel movement frequency can affect all body systems and how abnormal bowel movement frequency may be an important risk factor in the development of chronic diseases,” said Sean Gibbons, lead author of the study.

1,400 healthy adults were examined and subsequently divided into four groups: constipated (one or two stools per week), low normal (three to six bowel movements per week), high normal (one to three bowel movements per day), and diarrhea (higher than three bowel movements per day).

“The study found that age, gender and body mass index (BMI) were significantly associated with bowel movement frequency. In particular, younger people, women and people with a lower BMI tended to have less frequent bowel movements,” the study published in the journal Cell Reports, Medicine. Other factors leading to more or less frequent bowel movements may be genetic, demographic, or even, for example, related to the microbial composition of the intestine.

The results revealed a so-called “Goldilocks zone” (ideal frequency): bowel movements once or twice a day. People within this average range typically have gut bacteria that ferment fiber, which is generally associated with good health. It is also suggested that to achieve the ideal bowel frequency, it would be helpful to eat a diet rich in fiber, ensure better hydration, and exercise regularly.