Why you should take a ‘fart walk’ after meals, NYC doctor explains

You may want to add one surprisingly simple habit to your post-meal routine — the so-called ‘fart walk’. Before you raise an eyebrow, let us tell you that this concept is grounded in science. If you are someone who has farted at least once or ever unbuttoned your trousers on the couch after a meal, you may want to do this. Dr Tania Elliott, a board-certified internal medicine specialist and allergist, and spokesperson for the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, is making a compelling case for the ‘fart walk’, which is one of the most effective and most talked-about post-meal habits you’ve never tried.
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Here’s the thing: everyone farts. That’s right — everyone alive farts. This is perhaps not the most preferred dinner-table conversation, but the facts are true. Flatulence is a completely natural consequence of the digestive process. But if it is excessively frequent, you may want to investigate why.
So, what is a ‘fart walk’? A ‘fart walk’ is exactly what it sounds like: a short, easy stroll taken right after a meal. According to Elliott, a fart walk is a simple and effective way to deal with excessive flatulence and bloating. “It works better than Gas-X for bloating,” Dr Elliott said in a recent newsletter.

Taking a quick stroll after a meal is best for your digestion. It will reduce the post-meal slump and the stuffed feeling. How? “Walking triggers something called peristalsis, which is the wave-like muscle contractions that move food through your digestive tract. Without that motion, things slow down, and food gets stuck,” the New York-based doctor explained.
According to her, people who are on GLP-1 drugs should do this fart walk religiously. “GLP-1 medications like Ozempic slow digestive emptying even more, which is why a very common side effect is bloating and constipation. So, if you are on one of these medications, this is all the more reason to take a fart walk,” she said.

After a meal, if you take a quick stroll, this is what happens in your body:

• Your abdominal muscles gently contract with movement
• Being upright increases pressure inside your abdomen
• That pressure helps move food and gas through your system
• Your gut ‘wakes up’ and starts doing its job
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The effect of a fart walk is more powerful than most people realise, and the research backs it up. It is even better than any over-the-counter medication you take for flatulence. A randomised controlled trial of 94 people showed that walking after meals was as effective as a common anti-gas medication like Gas-X, and that walkers had better relief from bloating than those who took medication.

Make the fart walk a habit. In fact, make it part of your daily routine. The concept isn’t new. If you’ve ever spent time in Italy, Spain or France, you’ll know about the after-dinner walk, known as the passeggiata — the evening stroll that does the same thing. “Instead of sitting around for an after-dinner drink or tea with friends or family, suggest taking a walk together. You still get to have quality time, but you are also helping your body digest a meal,” the doctor said. “If you are experiencing bloating, before reaching for a pill or a probiotic, start adding 10–20-minute walks after each meal. Happy (fart) walking!”