Lauren Bell was stressed out and just starting her first job post-college in New York City when she realized a bout of food poisoning wasn't going away after weeks. A doctor's appointment revealed she had , a surprising diagnosis—until she learned more about the connection between and gut health, as well as the prevalence of digestive problems among women. "Working in a pretty intense environment, living in the city and being an adult for the first time was doing a number on my body," the 27-year-old said of her diagnosis five years ago.
Every few months, a new TikTok about digestive problems goes viral—the taboo topic often being brought up by women who suggest tips to reduce bloat or ease pain. Experts say it's not clear whether there is an uptick in the number of people having digestive problems or if the online conversation is leading to more appointments and diagnoses. But doctors are seeing a pattern of more and younger people wanting to deal with their gastrointestinal distress, and they suspect anxiety related to increased isolation during the pandemic is playing a big role in the increase in visits.
"I definitely have a lot of young women in my practice," Chicago-based gastroenterologist Dr. Nina Gupta said, "but in the last few years, I am also seeing more younger men." Making connections and sharing tips online can help, experts say, but they also want people to be careful because what might look like advice could be more like advertising if influencers are bei.