Exercise Habits, Including Exercising With Partners, and the Prevalence of Self-Reported Constipation in Young...

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Exercise Science
• Gastroenterology

Background:

• Constipation is a widespread health concern globally.
• The relationship between exercise habits and constipation remains unclear.
• The impact of exercise partners on constipation has not been previously studied.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between exercise frequency, intensity, and partners with constipation.
• To evaluate these associations in a young Japanese population.

Main Methods:

• A self-administered questionnaire was used to collect data from 12,497 Japanese university students.
• Information gathered included constipation status, exercise frequency, intensity, and the presence of exercise partners.
• Constipation was defined by self-reported recent frequent constipation.

Main Results:

• The prevalence of self-reported constipation was 6.5%.
• Higher exercise frequency and intensity were independently linked to lower constipation rates.
• Exercising with groups and friends showed an inverse association with constipation, with exercising with friends remaining significant after further adjustments.

Conclusions:

• Exercise frequency, intensity, and having exercise partners may independently reduce the likelihood of constipation in young Japanese adults.
• Exercising with others, especially friends, appears to have a protective effect against constipation.
• Promoting social exercise opportunities could be beneficial for constipation prevention.