Does Pooping Help You Lose Weight?

Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsHow Much Does Poop Weigh?Do You Burn Calories While Pooping?Pooping and Weight LossBest Ways to Lose WeightFrequently Asked Questions

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

How Much Does Poop Weigh?

Do You Burn Calories While Pooping?

Pooping and Weight Loss

Best Ways to Lose Weight

Frequently Asked Questions

Pooping doesn’t help you lose weight, apart from a drop in the scale you might notice after a largebowel movement. Although you may feel lighter and less bloated after having a bowel movement, it’s not because you’ve lost body weight. Weight loss happens when you burn more calories than you consume.

This article will discuss whether pooping leads to weight loss and how many calories a bowel movement can burn. It will also discuss the best way to lose weight and keep it off.

Chakrapong Worathat / EyeEm / Getty Images

How much poop weighs—and how much the scale will drop after a bowel movement—depends on the frequency of your bowel movements. Studies suggest that the average healthy person poops 1.2 times within 24 hours.

There is no definition of a “normal” number of bowel movements. Some experts suggest that a healthy bowel frequency is between three bowel movements per day and three per week.

Other factors that play a role in the frequency and weight of stool include:

The types of food you eat and your meal frequency can also affect the weight of your stool. For example, studies show that high-fiber diets can provide more bulk to the stool, leading to heavier bowel movements.

People with obesity or overweight status are also at more risk for abnormal bowel patterns anddiarrhea, which can affect stool weight.

Technically, yes. Your body constantly burns calories in order to perform essential daily functions. This includes breathing, eating, regulating body temperature, and performing sedentary activities like reading. During a bowel movement, your body continues to burn calories as you sit on the toilet.

However, the exact amount of calories you burn depends on your body size. For example, a 170-pound person may burn around 139 calories while sitting for an hour.

If you are straining when using the bathroom, there is a chance that you will burn a small number of extra calories. However, you should avoid straining during bowel movements because it can causehemorrhoidsand signalconstipation.

The amount of weight a person loses after a bowel movement differs for every individual. However, it is usually insignificant and temporary.

What’s more, poop is primarily made up of water. An estimated 75% of stool volume is water.While the scale may drop after a large poop, it’s going to be mostly water loss.

Most adults produce an average of 128 grams or about 0.25 pounds of poop each day. However, poop can range from 15 grams to 1,505 grams per day.

The best way to lose weight is to consume fewer calories than your body burns each day. While healthy bowel habits are important for your overall health, exercise and diet modifications are the key to weight loss.

If you’re overweight and looking to lose weight, consider reducing your daily calorie intake. As a general rule of thumb, it takes a deficit of approximately 3,500 calories to lose 1 pound.

This can be done through diet and exercise. For example, if you exercise for 30 minutes each day and burn 250 calories, you’ll need to cut an additional 250 calories from your daily food intake to achieve a weight loss of one pound per week.

To maintain optimal health during your weight loss, it’s important to avoid processed foods and consume enough fiber, and eat a wide variety of whole, nutrient-dense foods. A recent study found that people who eat a high-fiber diet consisting of around 25 grams of fiber each day are more likely to experience long-term weight loss.

High-fiber diets also promote regular bowel movements to help you feel less bloated.

Examples of foods that are high in fiber include:

Summary

The body is continuously processing food and eliminating waste, leading to temporary weight fluctuations. If you notice a drop in weight after a bowel movement, it’s most likely short-term.

While it’s essential to have regular bowel movements to maintain overall health, it is not a way to lose weight. Eating a high-fiber, nutrient-rich diet and exercising regularly can promote weight loss and healthy bowel movements.

A Word from Verywell

Losing weight is a complex process that takes time. Eating too few calories can lead to irregular bowel movements and hinder your weight loss efforts. It’s important to give yourself grace throughout the process and take things one day at a time.

Incorporating regular physical activity and a well-balanced, high-fiber diet can help you lose weight. For additional help losing weight, visit a registered dietitian who can create an individual food plan tailored to your needs.

Frequently Asked QuestionsA high-protein diet that reduces or restricts carbohydrates often does not have adequate fiber and can lead to constipation.Laxatives are useful in promoting regular bowel patterns and relieving constipation. However, they should not be used to aid in weight loss.No, it isn’t normal, but if you’ve transitioned to a diet that is low in fiber, aren’t eating consistent meals throughout the day, or don’t consume enough fluids, you may experience constipation.Learn MoreHow to Eat When You’re ConstipatedAlthough coffee doesn’t stimulate a bowel movement for everyone, research shows that coffee promotes the urge to poop in at least one-third of the population and tends to affect women more than men.

A high-protein diet that reduces or restricts carbohydrates often does not have adequate fiber and can lead to constipation.

Laxatives are useful in promoting regular bowel patterns and relieving constipation. However, they should not be used to aid in weight loss.

No, it isn’t normal, but if you’ve transitioned to a diet that is low in fiber, aren’t eating consistent meals throughout the day, or don’t consume enough fluids, you may experience constipation.Learn MoreHow to Eat When You’re Constipated

No, it isn’t normal, but if you’ve transitioned to a diet that is low in fiber, aren’t eating consistent meals throughout the day, or don’t consume enough fluids, you may experience constipation.

Learn MoreHow to Eat When You’re Constipated

Although coffee doesn’t stimulate a bowel movement for everyone, research shows that coffee promotes the urge to poop in at least one-third of the population and tends to affect women more than men.

12 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Rose C, Parker A, Jefferson B, Cartmell E.The characterization of feces and urine: a review of the literature to inform advanced treatment technology.Crit Rev Environ Sci Technol. 2015;45(17):1827. doi:10.1080/10643389.2014.1000761Mitsuhashi S, Ballou S, Jiang ZG, et al.Characterizing normal bowel frequency and consistency in a representative sample of adults in the United States (NHANES).Am J Gastroenterol. 2018;113(1):115-123. doi:10.1038/ajg.2017.213Rush University Medical Center.High fiber diet.Ballou S, Singh P, Rangan V, Iturrino J, Nee J, Lembo A.Obesity is associated with significantly increased risk for diarrhoea after controlling for demographic, dietary and medical factors: a cross-sectional analysis of the 2009-2010 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.Aliment Pharmacol Ther. 2019;50(9):1019-1024. doi:10.1111/apt.15500Boilesen SN, Tahan S, Dias FC, Melli LCFL, de Morais MB.Water and fluid intake in the prevention and treatment of functional constipation in children and adolescents: is there evidence?J Pediatr (Rio J). 2017;93(4):320-327. doi:10.1016/j.jped.2017.01.005Harvard Health Publishing.Burning calories without exercise.Medline Plus.Ways to burn more calories.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Constipation.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.The digestive system and how it works.U.S. Department of Agriculture.I want to lose weight. How many calories do I need to burn?Miketinas DC, Bray GA, Beyl RA, Ryan DH, Sacks FM, Champagne CM.Fiber intake predicts weight loss and dietary adherence in adults consuming calorie-restricted diets: the pounds lost (Preventing overweight using novel dietary strategies) study.J Nutr. 2019;149(10):1742-1748. doi:10.1093/jn/nxz117Iriondo-DeHond A, Uranga JA, del Castillo MD, Abalo R.Effects of coffee and its components on the gastrointestinal tract and the brain–gut axis.Nutrients. 2020;13(1):88. doi:10.3390/nu13010088

12 Sources

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Rose C, Parker A, Jefferson B, Cartmell E.The characterization of feces and urine: a review of the literature to inform advanced treatment technology.Crit Rev Environ Sci Technol. 2015;45(17):1827. doi:10.1080/10643389.2014.1000761Mitsuhashi S, Ballou S, Jiang ZG, et al.Characterizing normal bowel frequency and consistency in a representative sample of adults in the United States (NHANES).Am J Gastroenterol. 2018;113(1):115-123. doi:10.1038/ajg.2017.213Rush University Medical Center.High fiber diet.Ballou S, Singh P, Rangan V, Iturrino J, Nee J, Lembo A.Obesity is associated with significantly increased risk for diarrhoea after controlling for demographic, dietary and medical factors: a cross-sectional analysis of the 2009-2010 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.Aliment Pharmacol Ther. 2019;50(9):1019-1024. doi:10.1111/apt.15500Boilesen SN, Tahan S, Dias FC, Melli LCFL, de Morais MB.Water and fluid intake in the prevention and treatment of functional constipation in children and adolescents: is there evidence?J Pediatr (Rio J). 2017;93(4):320-327. doi:10.1016/j.jped.2017.01.005Harvard Health Publishing.Burning calories without exercise.Medline Plus.Ways to burn more calories.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Constipation.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.The digestive system and how it works.U.S. Department of Agriculture.I want to lose weight. How many calories do I need to burn?Miketinas DC, Bray GA, Beyl RA, Ryan DH, Sacks FM, Champagne CM.Fiber intake predicts weight loss and dietary adherence in adults consuming calorie-restricted diets: the pounds lost (Preventing overweight using novel dietary strategies) study.J Nutr. 2019;149(10):1742-1748. doi:10.1093/jn/nxz117Iriondo-DeHond A, Uranga JA, del Castillo MD, Abalo R.Effects of coffee and its components on the gastrointestinal tract and the brain–gut axis.Nutrients. 2020;13(1):88. doi:10.3390/nu13010088

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Rose C, Parker A, Jefferson B, Cartmell E.The characterization of feces and urine: a review of the literature to inform advanced treatment technology.Crit Rev Environ Sci Technol. 2015;45(17):1827. doi:10.1080/10643389.2014.1000761Mitsuhashi S, Ballou S, Jiang ZG, et al.Characterizing normal bowel frequency and consistency in a representative sample of adults in the United States (NHANES).Am J Gastroenterol. 2018;113(1):115-123. doi:10.1038/ajg.2017.213Rush University Medical Center.High fiber diet.Ballou S, Singh P, Rangan V, Iturrino J, Nee J, Lembo A.Obesity is associated with significantly increased risk for diarrhoea after controlling for demographic, dietary and medical factors: a cross-sectional analysis of the 2009-2010 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.Aliment Pharmacol Ther. 2019;50(9):1019-1024. doi:10.1111/apt.15500Boilesen SN, Tahan S, Dias FC, Melli LCFL, de Morais MB.Water and fluid intake in the prevention and treatment of functional constipation in children and adolescents: is there evidence?J Pediatr (Rio J). 2017;93(4):320-327. doi:10.1016/j.jped.2017.01.005Harvard Health Publishing.Burning calories without exercise.Medline Plus.Ways to burn more calories.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Constipation.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.The digestive system and how it works.U.S. Department of Agriculture.I want to lose weight. How many calories do I need to burn?Miketinas DC, Bray GA, Beyl RA, Ryan DH, Sacks FM, Champagne CM.Fiber intake predicts weight loss and dietary adherence in adults consuming calorie-restricted diets: the pounds lost (Preventing overweight using novel dietary strategies) study.J Nutr. 2019;149(10):1742-1748. doi:10.1093/jn/nxz117Iriondo-DeHond A, Uranga JA, del Castillo MD, Abalo R.Effects of coffee and its components on the gastrointestinal tract and the brain–gut axis.Nutrients. 2020;13(1):88. doi:10.3390/nu13010088

Rose C, Parker A, Jefferson B, Cartmell E.The characterization of feces and urine: a review of the literature to inform advanced treatment technology.Crit Rev Environ Sci Technol. 2015;45(17):1827. doi:10.1080/10643389.2014.1000761

Mitsuhashi S, Ballou S, Jiang ZG, et al.Characterizing normal bowel frequency and consistency in a representative sample of adults in the United States (NHANES).Am J Gastroenterol. 2018;113(1):115-123. doi:10.1038/ajg.2017.213

Rush University Medical Center.High fiber diet.

Ballou S, Singh P, Rangan V, Iturrino J, Nee J, Lembo A.Obesity is associated with significantly increased risk for diarrhoea after controlling for demographic, dietary and medical factors: a cross-sectional analysis of the 2009-2010 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.Aliment Pharmacol Ther. 2019;50(9):1019-1024. doi:10.1111/apt.15500

Boilesen SN, Tahan S, Dias FC, Melli LCFL, de Morais MB.Water and fluid intake in the prevention and treatment of functional constipation in children and adolescents: is there evidence?J Pediatr (Rio J). 2017;93(4):320-327. doi:10.1016/j.jped.2017.01.005

Harvard Health Publishing.Burning calories without exercise.

Medline Plus.Ways to burn more calories.

Johns Hopkins Medicine.Constipation.

National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.The digestive system and how it works.

U.S. Department of Agriculture.I want to lose weight. How many calories do I need to burn?

Miketinas DC, Bray GA, Beyl RA, Ryan DH, Sacks FM, Champagne CM.Fiber intake predicts weight loss and dietary adherence in adults consuming calorie-restricted diets: the pounds lost (Preventing overweight using novel dietary strategies) study.J Nutr. 2019;149(10):1742-1748. doi:10.1093/jn/nxz117

Iriondo-DeHond A, Uranga JA, del Castillo MD, Abalo R.Effects of coffee and its components on the gastrointestinal tract and the brain–gut axis.Nutrients. 2020;13(1):88. doi:10.3390/nu13010088

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