A few people went back to eating fiber even though they felt better without it—mostly because of their beliefs or culture, not because they felt worse.

Scientific Claim

In adults with idiopathic constipation, religious or personal beliefs are a primary reason for resuming a high-fiber diet despite symptom improvement with fiber reduction.

Original Statement

“The remaining 6 patients continued on a high fiber diet for various reasons including being vegetarians or inability to stop consuming dietary fiber for religious or personal reasons.”

From study:Stopping or reducing dietary fiber intake reduces constipation and its associated symptoms.

Evidence Quality Assessment

Claim Status

appropriately stated

Study Design Support

Design supports claim

Appropriate Language Strength

association

Can only show association/correlation

Assessment Explanation

The claim is a direct description of reported reasons for behavior, with no causal inference. Language is appropriately non-definitive and observational.

Evidence from Studies

Supporting (0)

No supporting evidence found

Contradicting (1)

Stopping or reducing dietary fiber intake reduces constipation and its associated symptoms.

Cohort Study

Human

A few people went back to eating lots of fiber even though it made their constipation worse, because of their beliefs — but the study doesn’t show that this was the main reason most people did it, so we can’t say beliefs are the primary driver.

Source Study

Stopping or reducing dietary fiber intake reduces constipation and its associated symptoms.

Score: 39

DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v18.i33.4593

Similar Assertions

Most people with chronic constipation chose to keep eating less fiber after trying it, because they felt better—only a few went back to eating lots of fiber.

84%

Most people who came in with constipation were already eating a lot of fiber—so they weren’t lacking it, which challenges the idea that fiber deficiency causes constipation.

82%

This study shows that people with constipation don’t need fiber to poop normally—many felt better when they stopped eating it.

81%

Cutting fiber might help constipation because it makes poop smaller and less gas is made in the gut, so it’s easier to go and you don’t feel as bloated.

80%

People with constipation who kept taking fiber pills or eating lots of whole grains didn’t feel better—even if they tried to change their habits, the fiber kept them feeling the same.

80%