The #1 Hack to Help You Poop, Recommended by Gastroenterologists

EATING WELL - My love affair with the Squatty Potty started six Christmases ago when I bought my then-partner the little plastic stool as a joke gift. We’d seen those ridiculous unicorn commercials, and I thought it would get a good laugh. Little did I know this gag gift would become one of my most valued possessions. When we split up a couple of years ago, I didn’t hesitate to take the Squatty Potty with me. To this day, it remains the most unexpectedly life-changing purchase I’ve ever made.

If you’ve missed the viral marketing, the Squatty Potty is a stool that sits around the base of a toilet. When you need to go, you place your feet on it to elevate your knees above your hips, creating a pseudo-squatting position while sitting comfortably on your toilet. What started as a novelty in my bathroom quickly made me realize there was serious science behind the silly name. The Squatty Potty and similar devices (known as defecation postural modification devices, or DPMDs) aren’t just clever marketing—they’re based on human anatomy.

Within days of regular use, I noticed I was spending less time in the bathroom and feeling more “complete” afterward. Keep reading to learn more about the science behind the Squatty Potty and why you may want to consider purchasing one.

Why the Squatty Potty Works

Peter P. Stanich, M.D., a gastroenterologist at Ohio State University Medical Center, explains that bowel movement involve three basics steps: the muscles in the rectum spontaneously contract, the body straightens the angle of the anus, and sometimes people need to push (strain) to help the process.

When we sit on a standard toilet, our rectum is positioned at a 90-degree angle, creating a kink that makes elimination more difficult. This position forces us to strain, potentially leading to issues like hemorrhoids and incomplete evacuation.

“The real pooping hack is changing the angle of defecation. A Squatty Potty or stool helps with this as it gets the knees above the hips, and one leans just slightly forward. This position helps the rectum to straighten out and helps to have larger, more effective bowel movements so you can fully evacuate,” says Kenneth Brown, M.D., a board-certified gastroenterologist.