The relation between irregular bowel movement and the lifestyle of working women.

Background/aims: It is said that constipation is related to the occurrence and increase of bowel disease and colon cancer; however, there are few reports on this subject, and information about bowel movements in connection with the lifestyles of working women are almost non-existent.

Methodology: We conducted a survey of working women and obtained 509 valid responses. The odds ratios of the following factors were calculated: the number of bowel movements, skipping breakfast, dieting, suppressing bowel movements, haemorrhoids (anal fistulae), and stress.

Results: The prevention of skipping breakfast and suppressing bowel movement had a big effect on the increase of bowel movements and in preventing constipation, especially when the two factors were combined. For those experiencing haemorrhoids, stress had a great influence. More than half of the respondents admitted that the first appearance of the signs of constipation was during their high school days or before. The peculiar sense of shame of women in their adolescence, the disorder of daily life, the desire to obtain a slim figure and stress are thought to be triggers for the problem of constipation.

Conclusions: It is clear that the four factors in daily life defined above can have significant influence on constipation in women. It is thought that a proper diet with the right guidance, as well as social considerations can have favourable effects on these factors.