Are you unhealthy if you don’t move your bowels every day? Hong Kong doctor says no
If your general health is good, there’s no need to be concerned if you go to the toilet more or less often than other people
Are you unhealthy if you don’t have a bowel movement daily?
The short answer: No
If you’ve ever worried that your digestive system might not be quite right because your bowel movements aren’t as regular as your friends’, don’t fret. As long as you’re generally healthy, there is no such thing as a normal number when it comes to the frequency of going to the toilet.
“It really varies from person to person,” says Dr Luk Yiu Wing, a specialist in gastroenterology at The London Medical Clinic in Central. “Most people move their bowels once a day, usually after waking up. However, there are many people who have bowel movements twice, and even three or four times, a day. On the other hand, there are people who go once every other day or once every two to four days.
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“As long as you don’t have any underlying medical issues, I’d say that there’s no right or healthy number of times to move your bowels. Going twice a day doesn’t necessarily mean that your digestive system is healthier than that of someone who only goes twice a week.”