Is a Squatty Potty Actually Worth It? My Honest Take
Personal experience · Evidence links included · Not medical advice
A toilet stool is one of the few bathroom products I still use. It makes the position more comfortable for me and reminds me to lean forward instead of straining.
That is my experience. It is not proof that everyone with constipation needs one.
What the Research Actually Says
Raising your feet changes your hip and body position. Small studies in healthy volunteers have reported less straining and a stronger feeling of emptying with a posture device.
But the evidence is not one-sided. A 2023 randomized trial in people with constipation found that footstools changed posture without improving simulated evacuation time or comfort overall. A later study found that a footstool helped only a subset of patients with defecatory disorders.
So the honest conclusion is: it may help some people, but it is not a constipation treatment for everyone.
What It Feels Like for Me
With a stable toilet stool:
- I find it easier to lean forward and relax my belly.
- I am less tempted to push hard.
- Ten minutes feels like a clear stopping point instead of an endless toilet sit.
It does not fix hard stool, dehydration, medication side effects, or a pelvic-floor problem. It is a positioning aid, not a cure.
Do You Need the Brand Name?
No. The important part is a stable, non-slip footstool that fits your toilet and lets your feet rest securely. Do not balance on books, bins, towels, or luggage; falling in a bathroom is not worth improvising.
The branded version is convenient because it curves around the toilet. A sturdy household step stool may work just as well for comfort.
My Verdict
For me: worth keeping. For everyone: impossible to promise.
If raising your feet feels worse, stop. If soft stool still feels blocked, you strain regularly, or you never feel empty, ask a clinician about pelvic-floor or other defecation problems instead of buying more bathroom gear.