The prevalence of chronic diarrhea among US adults is 6.6%, with obesity positively associated with the condition, a recent study found. The study identified 5,246 adult participants aged ≥20 years who completed the bowel health questionnaire in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2009-2010 data set. Chronic diarrhea was defined as type 6 or 7 rating on the Bristol stool form scale (BSFS). Researchers found:

• The prevalence of chronic diarrhea was 6.6% in the sample set.
• High daily carbohydrate intake, obesity, feeling depressed, older age, and female sex were positively correlated with chronic diarrhea.
• Non-Hispanic white race and higher education were negatively correlated with chronic diarrhea.