What causes poop to float. Is your poop supposed to float or sink? Here are 5 common reasons why poop can float and when to see a doctor about floating poop.

Floating Poop: A Sign of Digestive Health

The shape, size, and color of your poop can reveal a lot about your overall health. But what about its buoyancy? You’re likely used to your stool sinking to the bottom of the toilet bowl. So, when it starts floating like a foul-smelling log, it’s natural to wonder what’s going on.

5 Reasons Why Poop Floats

An occasional floating stool usually isn’t a serious problem. However, if all of your bowel movements are floaters, it could be a symptom of a digestive health issue. Let’s examine the common causes of floating poop and whether they warrant concern.

1. A High-Fiber Diet

Eating enough dietary fiber is essential for your health and wellness. But one weird side effect of a high-fiber diet is floating poop. That’s because your body doesn’t fully digest fiber, therefore making your poop lighter and less dense. Foods rich in fiber include whole grains, fruits, green leafy vegetables, beans, and legumes. Takeaway: You’re in the clear—stick to your fiber-rich diet.

2. Excessive Gas

The gas in your gut makes poop less dense, which allows it to float. It’s kind of like inflating a balloon, except replace helium with flatulence and swap the balloon for feces. Farting up a storm can happen when you eat high-fiber foods, overeat, make sudden changes to your diet, or swallow air while you eat. Certain foods like fizzy or carbonated drinks, gum, hard candy, and artificial sweeteners can also produce excess gas. Takeaway: No need to worry, but keeping an eye on your diet might make your poop more dense.

3. Malabsorption

This is the medical term for when your gut doesn’t absorb enough nutrients from food. Some common causes of malabsorption include lactose intolerance, steatorrhea (high-fat poop), and liver/biliary problems. If your poop floats frequently, malabsorption might be the culprit. Talking to a healthcare professional can help you confirm and treat the underlying issue. Takeaway: If your floating poop coincides with other tummy troubles, malabsorption may be the cause.

4. Gastrointestinal Disorders

More than one out of every four people with functional bowel disorders experience floating stools, according to a 2015 study. That includes medical conditions like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and dyspepsia (indigestion). Moreover, another 3% of people in that study with gastrointestinal disorders had floating stools. These include celiac disease, Crohn’s disease, gallstones, and other disorders that affect the digestive system. Takeaway: If your floating poop coincides with other tummy troubles, one of the above conditions may be at play. But it will take a gastroenterologist to confirm.

5. Pancreas Problems

Your pancreas regulates your blood sugar levels and produces digestive enzymes. Health problems that involve the pancreas are linked to malabsorption, which can cause poop to float. One condition called exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI) (due to cystic fibrosis or chronic pancreatitis) has been linked to fatty, floating poop. A more serious issue is pancreatic cancer, where a tumor can block the pancreatic duct and lead to undigested food passing through the digestive tract. Takeaway: Consistent floating poop may indicate pancreas problems, but you can’t diagnose them based solely on what your poop looks like.

When to See a Doctor About Floating Poop

Floating poop is usually the result of something you ate; it’ll sink again once you recalibrate your diet. However, if you notice any of the following symptoms, talk to your doctor:

• Your stool floats more than a few days in a row: this might signal an underlying health condition.
• Blood in your poop: some causes of bloody poop include inflammatory bowel diseases, hemorrhoids, and colon cancer.
• Unexplained weight loss, abdominal pain, or other concerning symptoms: these can be signs of a more serious issue.

So, don’t panic if you occasionally see a floater in the toilet. But if it becomes a persistent problem or you have other worrying symptoms, it’s best to consult a healthcare professional to get to the bottom of it.

Takeaway

The buoyancy of your poop can provide clues about your digestive health. While an occasional floating stool is usually nothing to worry about, consistent floaters may signal an underlying condition like malabsorption, gastrointestinal disorders, or pancreas problems. Pay attention to your bowel movements and talk to your doctor if you have any persistent or concerning digestive symptoms.