Constipation - A New Definition Is Needed

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A team at our King's College London published a paper in 2019 that said a new definition for constipation is needed. A third of the patients, they weren't even able to recognize the signs of their own constipation when they were describing their symptoms. And I think this disconnect is problematic. Basically, you are disrupting the relationship between the patient and the doctor. This ultimately will lead to both satisfaction rates.

The formal definition for constipation is ‘Having fewer than three bowel movements per week’. But, did you know that you can have a bowel movement every day and still be constipated? Recent data has shown that a quarter of people worldwide have at one point reported symptoms, suggesting that there is so much more to constipation than simply infrequent bowel movements.

In today’s short-ish episode of ZOE Science & Nutrition, Jonathan and Will attempt to dispel some misconceptions about constipation and empower you to have better bowel movements.

Studies referenced in today’s episode:

A redefinition of constipation by King’s College London, published in the American Journal of Gastroenterology (2019) here
The State Of The Nation’s Gut, Love Your Gut here
Epidemiology of constipation in Europe and Oceania: a systematic review from Prichard & Bharucha via BMC Gastroenterol here
Recent advances in understanding and managing chronic constipation from Peppas, Alexiou, Mourtzoukou & Falagas via F1000Research here

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