Digest IT!

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I am a qualified nutritionist, not a gastroenterologist. The experiences shared here are personal and clinical observations. Always consult your doctor before starting any new supplement or health device, especially if you take medication or have an existing digestive condition.

Why a Gut Health Specialist Started Using a Toilet Stool

After fifteen years advising clients on gut health, I thought I had my own digestion completely figured out. Then perimenopause arrived and quietly dismantled that confidence. My bowel movements — previously reliable as clockwork — became sluggish, incomplete, and genuinely uncomfortable. Before reaching for supplements, I wanted to revisit the fundamentals. That search eventually led me to write this Squatty Potty review constipation sufferers have been asking me about for years.

I had recommended positional changes to clients countless times. Research published in the Journal of Medical Biomechanics confirms that squatting opens the anorectal angle from roughly 90 degrees to approximately 126 degrees. That wider angle reduces the puborectalis muscle’s grip on the rectum, allowing stool to pass with significantly less straining. In theory, the science is compelling. In practice, I had never personally tested it for longer than a few days.

So I committed to a full month. I tracked everything — stool frequency, Bristol Stool Scale scores, straining effort, incomplete evacuation episodes, and morning energy levels. Here is everything I found, honestly.

Why I Chose the Squatty Potty Simple Curve Bathroom Toilet Stool 7″ White

Several footstools and squatting platforms exist on the market. My reasoning for choosing this specific model was deliberate, not random.

The Squatty Potty Simple Curve Bathroom Toilet Stool 7″ White sits at seven inches — the height most consistently referenced in anorectal positioning research for standard Western toilets. Some competitors offer adjustable heights, which sounds attractive. However, adjustable mechanisms introduce wobble, and wobble during toileting is both unsafe and deeply unpleasant.

The Simple Curve design specifically follows the contour of the toilet base. That curved shape allows it to tuck completely underneath the bowl when not in use. For a small bathroom, this matters enormously. I also appreciated the smooth, non-porous plastic surface — hygienic, easy to wipe clean, and resistant to bathroom humidity.

Finally, weight capacity and stability were non-negotiable. This model supports up to 350 pounds and does not flex or shift underfoot. For a clinical tool that requires you to place full body weight on it, that sturdiness is essential rather than optional.

First Impressions: Packaging and Setup

The stool arrived in straightforward, minimal packaging. Assembly took under three minutes — two pieces click together without tools. There are no sharp edges, no rough seams, and no fiddly components to lose.

My initial reaction was that it looked smaller than expected. Photographed alone, the stool appears quite substantial. Next to a full-sized toilet, it is genuinely compact. That is actually a design success, not a disappointment.

Positioning instructions are simple: feet rest on the stool surface, knees rise above hip level, and the torso leans slightly forward from the hips. The first time I used it, the angle felt mildly awkward. By day three, it felt completely natural. That brief adjustment period is worth mentioning to anyone who expects immediate comfort.

How It Fits Into a Bathroom

My bathroom is not generously sized. However, the Simple Curve design slides under the toilet bowl completely when stored. It takes roughly two seconds to pull out and position before use. That ease of access matters — if a tool creates friction in your routine, you simply stop using it.

The white finish matches virtually any bathroom aesthetic. It looks like a deliberate fixture rather than a medical appliance. For clients who feel self-conscious about visible health devices in shared bathrooms, that subtlety is genuinely useful.

My Four-Week Testing Protocol

I ran this as rigorously as I would advise a client to track any gut intervention. Before starting, I established a two-week baseline. During those two weeks, I recorded:

• Daily stool frequency (target: once per day)
• Bristol Stool Scale type for each episode (target: Type 3 or 4)
• Perceived straining effort on a 1–5 scale
• Incomplete evacuation episodes (yes/no per sitting)
• Morning bloating rated 1–5
• Overall morning energy on waking

During my baseline, I averaged 0.7 bowel movements per day. Most scored Bristol Type 2 or 3 — pebble-like or lumpy logs. Straining effort averaged 3.4 out of 5. Incomplete evacuation occurred roughly every other day. Morning bloating averaged 3.1 out of 5.

I made no other changes during the test month. Diet, hydration, physical activity, and supplement routine all remained identical. The only variable introduced was the Squatty Potty Simple Curve Bathroom Toilet Stool 7″ White.

Daily Routine During the Test

Each morning I drank 500ml of warm water before breakfast — a habit already established. Within thirty minutes, I would attempt a bowel movement using the stool. I maintained the forward-lean position throughout each sitting. Sessions were timed and capped at ten minutes to avoid prolonged straining, which gastroenterology guidelines consistently advise against.

Evening sessions were recorded when they occurred, but morning attempts were the consistent daily anchor point.

Squatty Potty Review Constipation Results: What Actually Changed

Week one was underwhelming, honestly. I noticed mild improvement in straining effort — averaging 2.8 versus the baseline 3.4 — but frequency barely shifted. There was one day with no bowel movement at all. I questioned whether this experiment was worth continuing.

Week two brought a noticeable shift. Frequency climbed to an average of 0.9 per day. More meaningfully, Bristol scores improved consistently. I was regularly producing Type 3 and Type 4 stools — smooth, formed, easy to pass. That transition from Type 2 to Type 4 is clinically significant. It suggests the anorectal angle change was reducing resistance enough to allow fuller, more complete elimination.

By weeks three and four, the results were genuinely striking. Straining effort dropped to an average of 1.9 out of 5. Incomplete evacuation episodes fell from every other day to approximately twice across the entire final two weeks. Morning bloating averaged 2.1 — a full point lower than baseline.

The Mechanism Behind the Results

A 2019 study in the Journal of Colorectal Disease examined squatting position effects on defecation dynamics. Participants using a footstool reported significantly reduced straining and shorter defecation time compared to standard seated posture. My personal data aligned closely with those findings.

In my clinical experience, positional correction is often the missing piece for clients who eat well, hydrate adequately, and still struggle with sluggish elimination. The puborectalis muscle literally creates a kink in the rectum during standard seated posture. Elevating the feet straightens that kink. It is mechanical rather than pharmacological — and that simplicity is exactly what makes it sustainable long-term.

Energy levels also improved noticeably by week three. That may reflect more complete elimination reducing the low-grade discomfort that disrupts sleep quality — but I want to be careful not to overstate a subjective metric.

The Downsides You Should Know

No product review is credible without honest limitations. Here are mine.

First, week one genuinely felt like wasted effort. If I had not committed to a full month, I might have abandoned this after day ten. Anyone expecting immediate transformation will likely be disappointed. Positional change requires neurological and muscular adaptation — that takes time.

Second, the stool does not address underlying causes of constipation. Slow transit constipation, hypothyroidism, IBS-C, inadequate fibre intake, or medication side effects all require targeted intervention. The Squatty Potty Simple Curve Bathroom Toilet Stool 7″ White addresses outlet mechanics, not motility. That is an important clinical distinction.

Third, anyone with significant knee pain, hip arthritis, or balance difficulties may find the squatting angle uncomfortable or difficult to maintain safely. In those cases, I would recommend discussing with a physiotherapist before use.

Finally — and this is a practical note — households with multiple users will need everyone to adopt the habit for it to stay positioned correctly. A stool kicked back under the toilet by a housemate is a stool you forget to use.

Final Verdict: Who Should Buy This and Who Should Look Elsewhere

After a full month of tracked personal use, my verdict on this Squatty Potty review constipation experiment is straightforwardly positive — with appropriate nuance.

I rate it 4.5 out of 5 for anyone experiencing outlet-type constipation, straining, incomplete evacuation, or haemorrhoid aggravation from excessive pushing. The positional correction is anatomically sound, the evidence is credible, and the improvement I personally experienced was measurable and meaningful.

Buy This If You:

• Regularly strain during bowel movements
• Experience incomplete evacuation (the “not quite finished” feeling)
• Score consistently below Bristol Type 3
• Want a non-pharmacological, low-risk first intervention
• Have been advised to reduce straining due to haemorrhoids or pelvic floor tension

Consider Looking Elsewhere If You:

• Have slow transit constipation requiring motility support
• Experience joint pain that makes a squatting angle uncomfortable
• Are seeking relief from diarrhoea-predominant IBS (this tool is not appropriate)

Consult Your GP First If You:

• Have unexplained recent changes in bowel habits lasting more than three weeks
• Notice blood in stool or unexplained weight loss
• Have been diagnosed with rectal prolapse or advanced pelvic floor dysfunction

A Brief Note on the Alternative: The Original Squatty Potty

If the Simple Curve model