Gut health advice is everywhere—from TikTok influencers promoting miracle cures to well-meaning friends sharing their latest digestive discoveries. But this flood of misinformation is creating real problems for employers and employees alike. When workers chase unproven trends instead of seeking proper care, it leads to delayed treatment, increased healthcare costs, and more sick days.
The real numbers behind gut health in the workplace
The statistics paint a clear picture of how digestive issues impact your workforce:
- 71% of employees report regular gastrointestinal issues
- 59% say these issues affect their attendance
These numbers represent real people dealing with real discomfort—and real productivity losses for your organization.
Five gut health myths affecting your workforce
Myth #1: “Probiotics fix everything”
The reality: Probiotics aren’t personalized medicine, and they’re definitely not a cure-all. While they can be beneficial for some people, relying solely on probiotics can actually delay proper treatment for underlying conditions that require clinical intervention.
Why this matters: When employees self-treat with probiotics instead of seeking professional help, they may mask symptoms of more serious conditions that need medical attention.
Myth #2: “It’s just stress”
The reality: While stress certainly plays a role in digestive health, recurring gastrointestinal symptoms often signal underlying medical conditions that require clinical care and support.
Why this matters: Dismissing persistent gut issues as “just stress” prevents employees from getting the proper diagnosis and treatment they need to feel better and perform at their best.
Myth #3: “Everyone’s bloated—it’s normal”
The reality: Just because something is common doesn’t make it normal or acceptable. Chronic bloating is a sign that something isn’t right, and ignoring it leads to increased absenteeism and higher healthcare costs down the line.
Why this matters: Normalizing digestive discomfort means accepting reduced productivity and increased sick days as inevitable—when they’re not.
Myth #4: “Gut issues only affect older people”
The reality: Most digestive conditions actually start early in life. In fact, 75% of young adults with gastrointestinal symptoms report missing work because of their conditions.
Why this matters: Younger employees may be suffering more than you realize, and their productivity and attendance are paying the price.
Myth #5: “There’s nothing an employer can do”
The reality: Employers have more power than they think. Evidence-based gastrointestinal care programs can be simple to implement, clinically proven, and don’t add complexity or cost to existing benefits packages.
Why this matters: Taking a passive approach to employee gut health means missing opportunities to reduce healthcare costs, improve productivity, and enhance workplace satisfaction with solutions that are already available.
Moving beyond myths to real solutions
The solution isn’t to ban employees from social media or dismiss their health concerns. Instead, it’s about providing access to evidence-based care that cuts through the noise and delivers real results.
Key components of effective workplace gut health programs:
- Personalized care instead of one-size-fits-all solutions
- Easy accessibility for busy employees
- Integration with existing benefits without added complexity
What evidence-based gut health care looks like
When employees have access to proper gastrointestinal care, the results speak for themselves:
- 17% fewer sick days
- 92% of members report better quality of life
- 5:1 return on investment
The bottom line
Gut health misinformation isn’t just annoying—it’s expensive. When employees delay proper care while chasing trends, everyone pays the price through increased healthcare costs, reduced productivity, and higher absenteeism.
The good news? There’s a better way. By offering evidence-based gastrointestinal care that’s built for today’s workforce, employers can help their teams feel better, work better, and avoid the costly consequences of digestive health myths.
Stop the myths, share the facts.
Download the one-page flyer version of this content to share with your team.
Ready to make a change?
Move beyond the myths and invest in gut health solutions that work for your employees and your bottom line.
