Do You Spend Too A lot Time on the Bathroom? What Lavatory Habits Say About Intestine Well being

How lengthy does it take you to poop, from sitting right down to wiping? How lengthy ought to it take?

For those who’re like many youthful People—we’re speaking millennials and Gen Z—it could be taking you a tad too lengthy, in accordance with a brand new nationwide poop survey carried out by Well being. Nearly half of millennials (47%) and simply over half of Gen Z (51%) reportedly take no less than six minutes to have a bowel motion—considerably fewer Gen X (37%) and boomers (23%) take that lengthy.

To be clear, “there is no such thing as a particular, evidence-based ‘regular’ period of time to spend on the bathroom,” Amit Ahuja, MD, head of gastroenterology at Cylinder Medical Group, instructed Well being—however that doesn’t imply there aren’t some common pointers in your time spent pooping.

5 minutes is an inexpensive cutoff time for a bowel motion, in accordance with Jim Cox, MD, co-director of the gastroenterology and diet module on the Anne Burnett Marion College of Medication at Texas Christian College.

“If somebody hasn’t had a bowel motion inside that timeframe, then they need to rise up and take a look at once more later,” he instructed Well being.

However going over 10 minutes on the bathroom—or extreme issue having a bowel motion—might be a crimson flag. “Scientific concern ought to come up when there’s extended straining, incomplete evacuation, or the necessity for handbook help, slightly than based mostly on a strict time threshold,” stated Ahuja.

Our survey didn’t pinpoint a selected trigger for the extended poop intervals, however sure different stats sounded alarm bells for specialists.

The primary? Younger adults are consistently on their telephones—even once they’re on the bathroom. Gen Z is the almost certainly to be scrolling whereas indisposed, with 49% at all times utilizing the telephone on the bathroom, adopted by 39% of millennials. These percentages drop drastically for Gen X (22%) and boomers (6%).

However one thing bodily might be occurring, too. Constipation is commonest amongst millennials, with 33% reporting they’ve been backed up previously month. Extra particularly, 12% of millennials have been identified with IBS-C, a subtype of irritable bowel syndrome the place constipation is the principle symptom.

You can also’t ignore the connection between psychological well being and poop: Extra Gen Z (83%) and millennials (80%) indicated that anxiousness, stress, or psychological well being issues affected their bowel actions previously month, in comparison with simply 69% of Gen X and 50% of boomers.

“The mind-gut connection could be simply missed,” Amanda Sauceda, MS, RD, a registered dietitian and lecturer of diet and dietetics at California State College–Lengthy Seaside who makes a speciality of intestine well being, instructed Well being. “Your physique, particularly your intestine, can really feel psychological stress, which might translate to constipation and elevated rest room time.”

And the standard Western food regimen definitely doesn’t assist issues, stated Cox, who additionally suspects consuming too little fiber and an excessive amount of processed meals contribute to extra time spent on the bathroom.

If prolonged rest room time is an everyday observe, it’s definitely not good.

If in case you have hemorrhoids, sitting on the bathroom for lengthy intervals of time might make them flare, stated Cox. It’s additionally attainable to expertise compressed nerves within the legs or ache within the neck, again, and higher legs from holding that posture longer than vital.

After which there’s the germ issue. “Utilizing telephones on the bathroom will increase the danger of germ transmission since cell phones are well-documented vectors for microbial contamination,” Ahuja stated.  

Plus, extra display screen time basically isn’t nice. “Frequent telephone use throughout rest room time can reinforce the affiliation between toileting and display screen use, doubtlessly resulting in behavior formation or dependence on the telephone for distraction or emotional regulation,” Ahuja stated. 

Then again, folks could also be utilizing the quiet, uninterrupted telephone time as a technique to calm down and even assist them go to the toilet. “If that’s the case, engaged on a stress-reduction approach that doesn’t contain the telephone could be useful,” Sauceda stated.

First up: Fiber. It’s the macronutrient that retains issues transferring and serves as a prebiotic for good intestine micro organism—however you’re in all probability not getting sufficient. The Academy of Vitamin and Dietetics recommends that ladies get at least 25 grams per day, and males ought to attempt for 38 grams (most individuals solely get about half that).

“Fiber is the important thing, and consistency is the trick,” stated Sauceda. Consuming extra fiber occasionally gained’t minimize it—it must be a part of your common routine, however take it sluggish at first to provide your physique time to regulate.

Water is one other bowel motion important. “Anytime you up your fiber, you additionally must drink extra water,” stated Sauceda. “Water helps fiber transfer via your intestine, in any other case you’re extra more likely to really feel constipated.”

And don’t attempt to maintain your poop—go once you really feel like you need to go. “Attempt to have a bowel motion once you really feel the urge to evacuate the colon,” stated Cox. “Holding the stool causes the colon to soak up extra water out of the stool. This difficult stool could also be tougher to move.”

For those who discover BM’s are taking longer otherwise you’re experiencing different adjustments once you attempt to go, let your doctor know. “Any change in bowel habits, whether or not it’s constipation or diarrhea, ought to warrant a visit to a well being care skilled,” Cox stated. “For those who expertise rectal bleeding, weight reduction, or persistent belly ache, search pressing medical care.”

Well being.com surveyed 2,001 adults residing within the U.S. from June 11-19, 2025. The survey was fielded on-line through a self-administered questionnaire to an opt-in panel of respondents from a market analysis vendor. With a purpose to qualify, respondents should be over the age of 18 and residing within the U.S. Quotas have been applied in sampling utilizing benchmarks from American Group Survey (ACS) from the U.S. Census Bureau for age, race/ethnicity, and family revenue.