Boomers Report Better Poop Habits Than Millennials — But There Is Some Unflushable Fine Print

Take that, millennials: The Boomer generation is winning the bathroom wars, at least when it comes to regularity. According to a 2026 Healthline poll report, nearly 87% of boomers reported moving their bowels at least once a day, compared to around 82% of millennials. Moreover, roughly 6% more boomers than millennials described their stools as normal. (With that said, the poll also indicated that boomers are more likely than any other generation to have bowel disease or experience a food intolerance.)

Does this kind of toilet talk really matter, though? Is there really any meaning to how often you should be pooping? Yes, but frequency can vary between individuals, making consistency more important than how often you go for an extended toilet break. "Typically, we say that regular is anything from three bowel movements a day to one every three days," gastroenterologist Dr. Eva Alsheik told Henry Ford Health.

Essentially, the word "regular" is the key because you want to be on a somewhat routine "number two" cycle. A 2016 study in Molecular and Clinical Oncology revealed that infrequent bowel movements could cause excessive amounts of oxidative stress, which could then lead to a higher risk of the development of serious diseases and other life-threatening outcomes.

A 2024 review in Cell Reports Medicine found an association between how regular a person is and how likely the person is to be diagnosed with a kidney disorder or exhibit symptoms of dementia, among other conditions. "If stool sticks around too long in the gut, microbes use up all of the available dietary fiber," shared lead author Johannes Johnson-Martinez, adding that the downstream effect could lead to the production of toxins capable of causing chronic diseases (via ISB Science).

As mentioned earlier, the Healthline poll showed that boomers are more likely to experience bowel disease or have a food intolerance. This means that boomers need to be careful, because both conditions can interfere with healthy stool production. Irritable bowel disease can lead to stomach problems like diarrhea; food intolerances can lead to the same issues.

Some best practices to keep normal stools coming on a predictable timeline include staying hydrated and ensuring adequate intake of both soluble and insoluble fiber. Additionally, prioritize movement: A 2019 review in the Scandinavian Journal of Gastroenterology found that exercise could be used to reduce episodes of constipation. You can also try some of these exercises for people dealing with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).