From misconceptions about daily intake to bathroom myths, a new survey conducted by MyFitnessPal indicates that almost half of Americans know little to nothing about the importance of fiber in their diet.

Roses are red, violets are blue, and almost half of Americans don’t know how their fiber intake impacts their business in the loo! 

The leading global nutrition tracking app recently conducted a survey1 which revealed that many Americans lack rudimentary knowledge about fiber intake and its impact on gut health. However, the data also uncovered another phenomenon: Americans have anxiety about going number two around others, with 63% of respondents admitting to holding off on pooping around their special someone. Almost half of Americans also admit that they avoid certain foods to circumvent a trip to the loo around their date.

“These findings really brought to light how limited most people’s fiber knowledge is, which isn’t surprising when you think about the overwhelming amount of misinformation and pseudo-science on social media these days,” says Katie Keil, Chief Marketing Officer of MyFitnessPal. “Logging nutrition has proven to help people achieve their health goals and with MyFitnessPal, users can see how they’re tracking against recommended daily fiber intake goals – not only in terms of quantity, but also quality.”

Exploring the Connection Between Gut Health & Relationships

MyFitnessPal’s recent survey highlights a fascinating connection between gut health and interpersonal relationships. Other key findings include:

  • 46% of Americans will only poop with other people around if it’s an emergency.
  • 63% of Americans admit to holding off on pooping around their date/significant other/partner.
  • Almost half (46%) of Americans avoid dairy products around their date/significant other/partner to prevent pooping around them.
  • Almost half (48%) of Americans avoid eating spicy food around their date/significant other/partner to prevent pooping around them.

1 Survey fielded in January 2024 with 4000 people aged 18-59 across the U.S., Canada, UK, and Australia