An increase in travel and hybrid work is making it harder to poop, and now people are overusing laxatives as a result

08.09.2023 - 00:19 / insider.com

The laxative aisle has become a barren wasteland as people fret over how soon their next bowel movement will come.

According to the Wall Street Journal, demand is surging for laxatives. Experts believe the current shortage is due to a combination of reasons including an aging American population, the fact that most Americans don't consume enough fiber, and TikTokers touting laxatives for weight loss. Constipation brought on from hybrid work and travel may be another culprit.

Dr. Wendi LeBrett, a gastroenterologist who runs a TikTok under the name @socalgastrodoc, told Insider that while laxatives can safely alleviate constipation, her first recommendation for adults struggling with their bowels is to increase fiber.

Hybrid work and travel can disrupt your normal routine, triggering changes in normal bathroom functions, the WSJ reported.

In one of LeBrett's TikTok videos, she explains that "our digestive systems are creatures of habit. We want to feel comfortable when we're pooping."

Any changes to your typical routine including eating different foods, eating at different times, sleeping at different times and even using a different toilet can trigger stress, which can throw off the digestive tract leading to constipation or diarrhea.

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For example, LeBrett told Insider "I know that personally, when I work from home, I actually find it harder to eat healthy, because I have so many delicious snacks to eat."

Working from home can also affect how much you move throughout the day. Specifically, "people are less likely to be commuting, walking around — so that definitely can cause or increase constipation," LeBrett said.

While America is apparently ransacking the laxative aisle in hopes of relief, LeBrett doesn't recommend turning to laxatives first. Rather, she advises adding in more fiber to your diet — especially in the way of an old-time supplement, psyllium husk.

"I typically actually recommend starting with psyllium as my first line treatment," LeBrett told Insider.

LeBrett also recommends that people add more fiber to their diet by increasing the amount of fruits and vegetables they eat. She said that she often recommends kiwi, which she says has been shown to be beneficial for constipation and bloating.

Other recommendations include mango and dragonfruit, which are both high fiber foods.

But, LeBrett said, it's important to know that adding fiber to your diet won't cure constipation immediately. "A lot of