While the butt of many a joke, flatulence is necessary for good health and Australia’s science agency wants us to track ours for the greater good.
The CSIRO is calling on the community to track their farts, to help scientists better understand the frequency and characteristics of one of the leading gut health symptoms.
CSIRO Research Dietitian Megan Rebuli said while some people find farts embarrassing and uncomfortable, healthy bodies were meant to let them go.
Ms Rebuli said a 2021 gut health study found over 60 percent of Australians reported experiencing what they identified as excessive flatulence, with up to 43 percent reporting experiencing it most days.
She said the “Chart Your Fart” initiative would help determine what “normal” wind may look like in different groups of Australians.
“People aged 14 or older are being asked to track their flatulence for at least three days in total, using the free Chart Your Fart phone app.”
Ms Rebuli said participants would track the quantity and quality of their outputs, including attributes such as stench, loudness, duration, linger and detectability.
“Passing wind is a natural occurrence and a sign that our digestive system is working as it should, to expel excess gas that is produced from breaking down and processing the food we eat.”
She said talking about diet often led into discussion about the other end of eating.
“Different foods, medical conditions, or even the way we chew, or swallow can have an impact on how our body processes the excess gas, leading to different smells, frequency or even volume.”
Ms Rebuli said the Chart Your Fart campaign was part of newly launched public-led research initiative being driven by CSIRO health and wellbeing researchers in the citizen science space.
Learn more about the Chart Your Fart program.
