Is it normal to need to go to the bathroom soon after eating?

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The urge to have a bowel movement soon or immediately after eating is caused by the gastrocolic reflex.

According to the Mayo Clinic, the time it takes for food to be digested varies from person to person and can depend on height, weight, gender, and health. It usually takes about three days for food to pass through the digestive tract and leave the body as stool. Why do some people feel the urge to go to the bathroom shortly after eating?

Mayo Clinic experts say that this can happen when the gastrocolic reflex occurs – a physiological reaction in which the simple act of eating stimulates active movements in the gastrointestinal tract. Such reactivity is caused by the action of the hormones cholecystokinin and motilin (when their levels are elevated), which are responsible for regulating the motility of the digestive system.

“When food enters the stomach, the body releases a hormone that causes the large intestine to contract. These contractions push previously eaten food further along the tract, which can trigger the urge to defecate. In some people, the gastrocolic reflex is intense, contributing to the desire to go to the toilet almost immediately after eating,” the experts explained.

According to doctors, this feature is often observed in people suffering from irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

Some digestive disorders can affect the occurrence of the “too-rapid emptying reflex.” Among them are celiac disease, Crohn's disease, food intolerance, gastroenteritis. In addition, excessive stimulation of digestion can be caused by certain foods (for example, dairy) or stress, anxiety disorders.

People who feel the need to go to the toilet shortly after eating should visit a doctor.