Fart walk

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A fart walk is a short (5 to 15 minutes), light walk taken within an hour after eating. The practice is intended to aid digestion, relieve gas or bloating, and help regulate blood sugar. The practice gained popularity through social media and has been advocated by health professionals who describe the benefits as aligning with well-known physiological principles. In the medical literature, this practice is referred to as postprandial walking, and is primarily studied for its effects on glycemic control.

Contents

History

The concept of post-meal walking has existed in various cultures for centuries, such as the Italian la passeggiata, or the Chinese advice to "take 100 steps after each meal to live to 99." [1] In India, shatapawali refers to an ancient custom of walking 100 steps after a meal.

The term "fart walk" became a viral phenomenon in mainstream media in early 2025, when Toronto-based cookbook author Mairlyn Smith shared her post-dinner walking routine on TikTok, coining the term "fart walk" due to its effect of relieving flatulence. [2] [1]

Basis and benefits

Light physical activity after meals purportedly stimulates gastrointestinal motility, including peristalsis and the gastrocolic reflex, speeding up gastric emptying and the movement of gas and contents through the digestive system. [3] Peristalsis (wave-like muscle contractions in the gut) may help move trapped gas, reducing bloating. [4] [5]

Proponents claim several benefits from fart-walking, including:

Research

A number of studies support glycemic-control benefits of post-meal walking.

A 2009 study found that a 20-minute walk taken 15–20 minutes after dinner was more effective in lowering postprandial glucose than walking before dinner in people with type 2 diabetes. [10]

A randomized crossover trial in 2013 found that three 15-minute walks following meals led to significantly improved 24-hour glycemic control in older adults at risk for impaired glucose tolerance compared to a single 45-minute walk in the morning. [11]

A randomized controlled trial in India in 2017 compared walking for 15 minutes after each meal to a single 45-minute walk each morning, finding greater reductions in blood glucose and HbA1c in the post-meal group. [12]

In 2022, a review concluded that short bouts (2–10 minutes) of walking after meals were effective in reducing postprandial glucose spikes, particularly in people with or at risk for type 2 diabetes. [9]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 Aidin Vaziri (29 April 2025). "Why doctors say the viral 'fart walk' trend is actually good for you". San Francisco Chronicle .
  2. 1 2 Perri Ormont Blumberg (2 July 2025). "Is Taking a 'Fart Walk' Good for Your Health?". Time .
  3. ↑ Sam Hopes (23 May 2025). "'Fart walking' is trending — here's everything you need to know". tomsguide.com.
  4. ↑ Luke Whelan (21 August 2024). "Why 'Fart Walks' Are So Good for Your Health". University of Washington Medicine.
  5. ↑ Dan Baumgardt, University of Bristol (17 July 2024). "'Fart walk' all the talk: Will post-meal strolls really help us 'age wonderfully'?". The Conversation.
  6. ↑ Andi Breitowich (18 May 2025). "The Post-Dinner Habit You Didn't Know You Needed? Meet the Fart Walk". Food & Wine .
  7. ↑ Jessica Nussman (2 May 2025). "After Dinner Digestion Walk, AKA Fart Walk, Goes Viral And HMH Experts Say, The Health Benefits Don't Stink". Hackensack Meridian Health.
  8. ↑ Julia Musto (5 May 2025). "What the heck is a fart walk? Why this practice is being hailed as the secret to healthy aging". The Independent .
  9. 1 2 Bellini, M.; et al. (2022). "The Effects of Postprandial Walking on the Glucose Response after Meals with Different Characteristics". Nutrients. 14 (5): 1080. doi: 10.3390/nu14051080 . PMC   8912639 . PMID   35268055.
  10. ↑ Colberg, S.R.; et al. (2009). "Postprandial walking vs. preprandial walking in type 2 diabetes". Diabetes Care. 10 (6): 394–397. doi:10.1016/j.jamda.2009.03.015. PMID   19560716.
  11. ↑ DiPietro, L.; et al. (2013). "Three 15-min bouts of moderate postmeal walking significantly improve 24-h glycemic control in older people at risk for impaired glucose tolerance". Diabetes Care. 36 (10): 3262–3268. doi:10.2337/dc13-0084. PMC   3781561 . PMID   23761134.
  12. ↑ Dasgupta, K.; et al. (2017). "Post-meal walking improves glycemic control more than pre-breakfast exercise in people with type 2 diabetes". DMS Journal. doi: 10.1186/s13098-017-0263-8 . PMC   5580296 .
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