If you check your loo roll after wiping, you might feel the habit is a little embarrassing ― but doctors approve of the move, saying it can help you to identify various health issues.

Everything from the colour of your stool to how you feel when it passes can reveal issues with your bowel health.

But what about the size and shape of the stool ― which the Bristol stool chart tells us changes according to how hydrated we are, how much we move, and whether or not we’re getting enough fibre?

As it turns out, one stool shape change can be a sign of bowel health issues, particularly if it persists for weeks.

Pencil-thin poop can be a red flag health sign

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