Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsExcessive GasMedical ConditionsWhen to See a Healthcare ProviderTreatmentPrevention
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Excessive Gas
Medical Conditions
When to See a Healthcare Provider
Treatment
Prevention
Seeing your poop float might surprise you. But it’s usually nothing to worry about. More often than not, it’s related to something you ate.
Other times, floating poop can be a symptom of an underlying condition. If you’re experiencing other symptoms as well, consider talking to your healthcare provider.
Here are the main reasons behind thistype of stool(poop), ways to prevent it, and when you should see a healthcare provider.
Verywell / Joshua Seong, Verywell
Common Causes
The following are common causes of floating stool:
Gas
Most of the time, floating stool is the result of something you ate that leads to gas. The extra air from the gas makes poop less dense, or packed. This leads it to float when it hits the toilet bowl.
Your intestines, orbowels, are part of yourdigestive system. They help your body break down and digest food. If you eat a large meal or something that produces gas, the gas mixes with stool in the intestines.
Have you noticed you feelgassy after you eat specific foods? That’s because certain types of foods can produce gas. Here are some examples:
Many of these foods contain sugars that can make excess gas, like sorbitol or fructose. For instance, prunes, apples, peaches, and sugar-free foods contain sorbitol. Sodas, honey, and fruit juices are high in fructose.
If your floating stool is a result of gas-producing food, there’s some good news. Your poop should return to normal after youeat less of the foods that bother you.
Malabsorption
Poor absorption of nutrients from the foods you eat, known asmalabsorption, can alter your stool. It can make the stool greasy, foul smelling, and cause it to float. Unexplained weight loss can also be a sign of malabsorption.
Malabsorption can have many causes such as medications or damage to the intestinal lining due to medical conditions.
High Fat Content in Stool
Fatty stool, known assteatorrhea, can cause it to float. This may happen occasionally after eating a fatty meal. However, if it happens often it can be a sign of malabsorption from a medical condition.
Lactose Intolerance
People withlactose intolerancemay have floating poop when they eat dairy products. That’s because they have low levels of theenzyme lactasethat the body needs to digestlactose(a sugar in milk).
Lactose isn’t only in milk—it’s also in many other dairy products, like yogurt, ice cream, and some cheeses.
That’s why someone with lactose intolerance might become bloated or gassy after eating dairy,which can lead to floating stool.
High Fiber Intake
Increasing the amount of fiber in your diet can lead to gas and make your poop float. Fiber is an important part of a healthy diet, but it can be more gentle on your system to increase it gradually. It can also help to drink plenty of water.
Digestion Relief for Symptoms of Too Much Fiber
If your stool floats often, it could be a sign of an underlying medical condition.
Crohn’s Disease
Crohn’s diseaseis a form ofinflammatory bowel diseasethat may include malabsorption which may affect stool. The cause of Crohn’s disease isn’t well understood but may involve a combination of genetic factors and an immune system reaction within the digestive tract that causes inflammation.
Celiac Disease
Celiac diseaseis an autoimmune disease in which eating gluten triggers white blood cells to attack the lining of the small intestine. The damage to the intestinal lining can lead to malabsorption and cause stool to float.
Graves' Disease
Graves' diseaseis an autoimmune disorder that affects the thyroid and can causehyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid). The excess thyroid hormones can affect the digestive system and lead to malabsorption.
Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Along with gas, people withirritable bowel syndrome(IBS) may have floating stools.
A 2015 study published in theEuropean Journal of Gastroenterology & Hepatologyexamined people with IBS. The researchers concluded that floating stools were a characteristic feature of IBS. In fact, 26% of the adults in the study reported having floating stools.
Infection
A gastrointestinal infection can lead to malabsorption and changes in stool. For example, Whipple’s disease is a bacterial infection that affects the digestive system and interferes with your body’s ability to absorb fats.
Chronic Pancreatitis
Chronic pancreatitisoccurs when there’s inflammation in your pancreas. The condition is usually a result ofgallstonesor long-term alcohol abuse. It often occurs after acute, or sudden, pancreatitis. It’s also linked todiabetes.
While floating stool is common in pancreatitis, you may experience other symptoms as well. Stomach pain, back pain, bloating, and weight loss are all common.
Cystic Fibrosis
Sclerosing Cholangitis
Along with floating stools, symptoms include:
Choledocholithiasis
Choledocholithiasisoccurs when you have one or more gallstones in the common bile duct.
The condition doesn’t provoke any symptoms unless the stone blocks the bile duct. As well as floating stools, you might feel pain in the right upper or middle upper stomach. The pain usually lasts for at least 30 minutes.
Fever, jaundice, nausea, and vomiting can also occur. You may lose your appetite.
Pancreatic Cancer
Althoughpancreatic cancerisn’t common, it’s another potential cause for floating stool.
Consult your healthcare provider if you notice changes in your bowel habits that last more than two weeks. Tell your healthcare provider if you’re having additional symptoms, like:
Treatments, if any, will depend on the cause. It may involve slight diet changes or treating an underlying medical condition.
Lifestyle Treatment Options
Floating stool due to excess gas is often harmless and goes away without treatment. Since food can play a role in the development of floating stools, it’s possible that adjusting your diet may help.
For example, some dietitians and healthcare providers recommend that you take out one or two foods from your diet at a time. That way, you can test if those foods contribute to floating stools.
Your healthcare provider may also suggest that youkeep a record of the foods you eatand yourbowel movements. A record can help your healthcare provider see if there’s a pattern or connection between the food you eat and your stools.
Treating the Underlying Condition
Malabsorption and/or steatorrhea can cause your stool to float. The treatments will depends on the primary condition behind it. For example, those with celiac disease will follow a gluten-free diet. Those with cystic fibrosis may take a digestive enzyme supplement.
If a certain food makes gas worse, you might not have to avoid it. You can find enzyme supplements over the counter. These supplements can help you digest certain foods, such as beans and milk. Eating smaller portions can also help.
Many foods that can cause gas also have positive traits. Beans, for instance, have about 10 grams of fiber per cup and are rich in antioxidants.
Rather than avoiding these foods, try:
Summary
Most of the time, excessive gas is the reason why your stool is floating. Certain foods you eat can give you gas. The main culprits are lactose in milk products, soluble fiber, or sugars in food. It could be raffinose in beans, fructose in fruit, or sorbitol in prunes.
But certain conditions can also cause excessive gas or malabsorption, which results in your poop floating. Consult your healthcare provider if you’re experiencing other symptoms or if your problem doesn’t go away.
Foamy Poop Causes and Treatment
11 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.Azer SA, Sankararaman S.Steatorrhea. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing.Zhang YZ, Li YY.Inflammatory bowel disease: pathogenesis.World J Gastroenterol. 2014;20:91–99. doi:10.3748/wjg.v20.i1.91Celiac Disease Foundation.Symptoms of celiac disease.Bouchoucha M, Devroede G, Benamouzig R.Are floating stools associated with specific functional bowel disorders?Eur J Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2015;27(8):968-973. doi:10.1097/MEG.0000000000000380National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.Whipple’s disease.Pham A, Forsmark C.Chronic pancreatitis: review and update of etiology, risk factors, and management.F1000Res. 2018;7:F1000 Faculty Rev-607. doi:10.12688/f1000research.12852.1Gan C, Chen YH, Liu L, et al.Efficacy and safety of pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy on exocrine pancreatic insufficiency: a meta-analysis.Oncotarget. 2017;8(55):94920-94931. doi:10.18632/oncotarget.21659Sirpal S, Chandok N.Primary sclerosing cholangitis: diagnostic and management challenges.Clin Exp Gastroenterol.2017;10:265-273. doi:10.2147/CEG.S105872Almadi MA, Barkun JS, Barkun AN.Management of suspected stones in the common bile duct.CMAJ. 2012;184(8):884-892. doi:10.1503/cmaj.110896American Cancer Society.Signs and symptoms of pancreatic cancer.Dhingra D, Michael M, Rajput H, Patil RT.Dietary fibre in foods: a review.J Food Sci Technol.2012;49(3):255-66. doi:10.1007/s13197-011-0365-5Additional ReadingBailey J, Carter NJ, Neher JO.FPIN’s Clinical Inquiries: Effective management of flatulence.Am Fam Physician. 2009;79(12):1098-1100.Ohge H, Levitt MD. Intestinal gas. In: Feldman M, Friedman LS, Brandt LJ, eds. Sleisenger & Fordtran’s Gastrointestinal and Liver Disease. 9th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Saunders Elsevier; 2010:chap 16.
11 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.Azer SA, Sankararaman S.Steatorrhea. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing.Zhang YZ, Li YY.Inflammatory bowel disease: pathogenesis.World J Gastroenterol. 2014;20:91–99. doi:10.3748/wjg.v20.i1.91Celiac Disease Foundation.Symptoms of celiac disease.Bouchoucha M, Devroede G, Benamouzig R.Are floating stools associated with specific functional bowel disorders?Eur J Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2015;27(8):968-973. doi:10.1097/MEG.0000000000000380National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.Whipple’s disease.Pham A, Forsmark C.Chronic pancreatitis: review and update of etiology, risk factors, and management.F1000Res. 2018;7:F1000 Faculty Rev-607. doi:10.12688/f1000research.12852.1Gan C, Chen YH, Liu L, et al.Efficacy and safety of pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy on exocrine pancreatic insufficiency: a meta-analysis.Oncotarget. 2017;8(55):94920-94931. doi:10.18632/oncotarget.21659Sirpal S, Chandok N.Primary sclerosing cholangitis: diagnostic and management challenges.Clin Exp Gastroenterol.2017;10:265-273. doi:10.2147/CEG.S105872Almadi MA, Barkun JS, Barkun AN.Management of suspected stones in the common bile duct.CMAJ. 2012;184(8):884-892. doi:10.1503/cmaj.110896American Cancer Society.Signs and symptoms of pancreatic cancer.Dhingra D, Michael M, Rajput H, Patil RT.Dietary fibre in foods: a review.J Food Sci Technol.2012;49(3):255-66. doi:10.1007/s13197-011-0365-5Additional ReadingBailey J, Carter NJ, Neher JO.FPIN’s Clinical Inquiries: Effective management of flatulence.Am Fam Physician. 2009;79(12):1098-1100.Ohge H, Levitt MD. Intestinal gas. In: Feldman M, Friedman LS, Brandt LJ, eds. Sleisenger & Fordtran’s Gastrointestinal and Liver Disease. 9th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Saunders Elsevier; 2010:chap 16.
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.
Azer SA, Sankararaman S.Steatorrhea. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing.Zhang YZ, Li YY.Inflammatory bowel disease: pathogenesis.World J Gastroenterol. 2014;20:91–99. doi:10.3748/wjg.v20.i1.91Celiac Disease Foundation.Symptoms of celiac disease.Bouchoucha M, Devroede G, Benamouzig R.Are floating stools associated with specific functional bowel disorders?Eur J Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2015;27(8):968-973. doi:10.1097/MEG.0000000000000380National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.Whipple’s disease.Pham A, Forsmark C.Chronic pancreatitis: review and update of etiology, risk factors, and management.F1000Res. 2018;7:F1000 Faculty Rev-607. doi:10.12688/f1000research.12852.1Gan C, Chen YH, Liu L, et al.Efficacy and safety of pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy on exocrine pancreatic insufficiency: a meta-analysis.Oncotarget. 2017;8(55):94920-94931. doi:10.18632/oncotarget.21659Sirpal S, Chandok N.Primary sclerosing cholangitis: diagnostic and management challenges.Clin Exp Gastroenterol.2017;10:265-273. doi:10.2147/CEG.S105872Almadi MA, Barkun JS, Barkun AN.Management of suspected stones in the common bile duct.CMAJ. 2012;184(8):884-892. doi:10.1503/cmaj.110896American Cancer Society.Signs and symptoms of pancreatic cancer.Dhingra D, Michael M, Rajput H, Patil RT.Dietary fibre in foods: a review.J Food Sci Technol.2012;49(3):255-66. doi:10.1007/s13197-011-0365-5
Azer SA, Sankararaman S.Steatorrhea. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing.
Zhang YZ, Li YY.Inflammatory bowel disease: pathogenesis.World J Gastroenterol. 2014;20:91–99. doi:10.3748/wjg.v20.i1.91
Celiac Disease Foundation.Symptoms of celiac disease.
Bouchoucha M, Devroede G, Benamouzig R.Are floating stools associated with specific functional bowel disorders?Eur J Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2015;27(8):968-973. doi:10.1097/MEG.0000000000000380
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.Whipple’s disease.
Pham A, Forsmark C.Chronic pancreatitis: review and update of etiology, risk factors, and management.F1000Res. 2018;7:F1000 Faculty Rev-607. doi:10.12688/f1000research.12852.1
Gan C, Chen YH, Liu L, et al.Efficacy and safety of pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy on exocrine pancreatic insufficiency: a meta-analysis.Oncotarget. 2017;8(55):94920-94931. doi:10.18632/oncotarget.21659
Sirpal S, Chandok N.Primary sclerosing cholangitis: diagnostic and management challenges.Clin Exp Gastroenterol.2017;10:265-273. doi:10.2147/CEG.S105872
Almadi MA, Barkun JS, Barkun AN.Management of suspected stones in the common bile duct.CMAJ. 2012;184(8):884-892. doi:10.1503/cmaj.110896
American Cancer Society.Signs and symptoms of pancreatic cancer.
Dhingra D, Michael M, Rajput H, Patil RT.Dietary fibre in foods: a review.J Food Sci Technol.2012;49(3):255-66. doi:10.1007/s13197-011-0365-5
Bailey J, Carter NJ, Neher JO.FPIN’s Clinical Inquiries: Effective management of flatulence.Am Fam Physician. 2009;79(12):1098-1100.Ohge H, Levitt MD. Intestinal gas. In: Feldman M, Friedman LS, Brandt LJ, eds. Sleisenger & Fordtran’s Gastrointestinal and Liver Disease. 9th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Saunders Elsevier; 2010:chap 16.
Bailey J, Carter NJ, Neher JO.FPIN’s Clinical Inquiries: Effective management of flatulence.Am Fam Physician. 2009;79(12):1098-1100.
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