BRITS EMBRACE MULTI-TASKING ON THE TOILET
The art of multi-tasking has even extended to toilet habits, according to new research released today.
Texting, blogging and surfing the internet are just some of the activities that over 75% of Brits get up to whilst on the toilet. The appeal of the digital space means 34% have sent a text message on the toilet, 33% have conducted a telephone conversation and 7% have searched the internet or bought goods online. The advent of Twitter has even impacted on toilet habits, with 1% admitting to ‘Tweeting’ on the loo.
And ensuring no time is wasted, Brits are using their toilet time to plan tasks such as what to have for their next meal (14%), whilst 6% can’t wait for meal times and actually tuck into food and drink whilst on the toilet.
The survey of over 2,000 people was conducted by Yakult to mark the launch of the 11th annual Gut Week (24 – 30 August), which aims to raise awareness of gut disorders and the importance of good digestive health.
The research also revealed that men are more likely to look for a distraction when on the toilet than women. 14% of men polled said they relive their football team’s success by reading souvenir match programmes on the toilet. 18% of men also used their time in the toilet to complete a crossword or Sudoku puzzle.
But this multi-tasking could be taking a toll on our health. Worryingly, 18% of those surveyed have suffered from cramps or pins and needles from sitting on the toilet too long. Despite this, nearly two thirds of polled (65%) are unaware that sitting on the toilet too long can cause haemorrhoids.
Phil Tufnell, launching Gut Week, said: “It's not really cricket is it choosing to eat, drink, blog and chat whilst on the loo? Touring the sub-continent we tended to spend a lot of time on the toilet through no fault of our own and in these circumstances the odd toilet read was understandable. However, looking at what Brits get up to on the toilet makes you think that something isn’t quite right as we are spending too long doing our business."
Dr. Simon Gabe, Consultant Gastroenterologist at St Mark’s Hospital, Harrow, commented:”Some people do occupy their time on the toilet for all sorts of reasons. In the past this was with a newspaper, magazine or book, but now involves using a wireless device to access the internet or answer emails. Generally this is harmless, but there are a few health risks worth being aware of”.
“There are problems which can arise from spending too long on the toilet, such as haemorrhoids, bleeding and worsening problems with emptying the rectum. More importantly, eating on the toilet runs the risk of contaminating the food with bacteria from the toilet. This may cause a bacterial gastroenteritis, which is an infectious diarrhoea and can be very severe.”
The Yakult research also uncovered some interesting regional variations:
• Londoners are twice as likely to read recipe books on the loo than the national average (10% compared to 5%)
• People in Northern Ireland text on the toilet more than any other region (46%)
• People living in the east of England are most likely to plan what to have for their next meal whilst on the loo (21%)
Organised by the Gut Week partners - digestive health charities Core, The Gut Trust, St Mark's Hospital Foundation, and in association with Yakult – www.loveyourgut.com offers practical advice and information on how to maintain gut health and ensure a regular bowel habit.
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NOTES TO EDITORS
Gut Week 2009
Gut Week is organised by the national medical research charity Core - the working name for the Digestive Disorders Foundation (registered charity no 262762), The Gut Trust (registered charity no 1057563), St Mark's Hospital, Harrow (St Mark's Hospital Foundation – charity no. 1088119) and Yakult.
Gut Week 2009 is supported by a wide range of celebrities and experts including Phil Tufnell, Dr Chris Steele, James Hickman, Stephanie Zinser, Antony Worrall Thompson, The Tanner Brothers.
CORE
Core - the Digestive Disorders Foundation - is an independent national charity that funds medical research into the prevention, cure and treatments of all forms of digestive disorders which account for one in ten of all deaths in the UK.
It relies on charitable donations to continue its work. Core provides quality information for sufferers on a wide range of digestive problems through its web-site: www.corecharity.org.uk or through leaflets and fact sheets available from Core, 3 St. Andrews Place, London NW1 4LB or by emailing info@corecharity.org.uk. Core does not endorse any specific commercial or pharmaceutical products.
The Gut Trust (Formerly the IBS Network)
The Gut Trust is a national charity, which offers support, information and advice on Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). The charity can be contacted through its website: www.theguttrust.org, email: info@theguttrust.org. by phone on 0114 272 3253 or by post – The Gut Trust, Unit 5, 53 Mowbray Street, Sheffield S3 8EN.
Members have access to a comprehensive and detailed self management programme, a set of fact sheets, a can't wait card and a regular magazine, Gut Reaction. Questions about IBS can be answered by health professionals either via email or our telephone helpline on 0114 272 3253 on Tuesdays and Thursdays 7.30pm to 9.30pm.
The Gut Trust does not endorse any specific commercial or pharmaceutical products.
About St Mark's Hospital
St. Mark's Hospital, Harrow, in north west London, is one of a few hospitals in the world specialising in research into and treatment of bowel and gut disease and disorders. Every year patients with very little hope for a successful outcome are referred to St Mark's where they receive the benefit of years of pioneering research and the most effective treatment currently available.
St Mark's Hospital Foundation, the charitable arm of St Mark's Hospital, are proud supporters of the Love Your Gut campaign. The Foundation is a registered charity (No 1088119) whose aim is to fund research, education and training. For further information, visit www.stmarksfoundation.org.
Yakult
Yakult is the original probiotic. It was developed in 1935 by Dr Shirota, at Kyoto University in Japan
Dr Shirota was a powerful advocate of preventative medicine. He believed healthy intestines helped give good health and a long life. His philosophy – Working on a healthy society – aims to improve physical, mental and social health
Yakult has nearly 75 years in bacteriological research and has achieved global recognition in the use of friendly bacteria in foods, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals. Research continues at the Yakult Central Institute in Japan and the company also works closely with scientific and medical communities to increase understanding of the role of friendly bacteria in health
Today Yakult is consumed by 25 million people in 31 countries and territories world-wide
