A gut health brand, Let Loose, has introduced a new product aimed at improving the experience of using the toilet: a limited-edition pair of shoes called "s--t shoes." The company states that these shoes are designed to offer a more stylish and discreet alternative to traditional toilet stools, like the Squatty Potty, by helping users achieve a squat-like position.
Let Loose founder and CEO Alexandra Houx Grounds explained in an Instagram video that the shoes are intended to "change the way the world poops." The footwear features a 7-inch lift, designed to raise the knees into a position that the company asserts can alleviate constipation, a common gastrointestinal issue. According to Grounds, sitting upright on a toilet is not the natural position for a bowel movement, unlike squatting, which historically allowed for the colon to be unkinked.
The anatomical difference lies in how sitting upright can partially kink the muscles around the rectum, creating resistance. By elevating the knees above the hips and leaning forward, users can purportedly relax the muscles surrounding the rectum, facilitating easier passage.
The patent-pending "s--t shoes," available in small and large sizes, are priced at $69 and are marketed to reduce the time spent straining during bowel movements. Frequent straining can lead to issues such as hemorrhoids, which affect a significant portion of the adult population and can cause pain, bleeding, itching, and swelling. Let Loose suggests that by promoting a more natural position, their shoes can also support more complete bowel movements and ease constipation.
Constipation affects a substantial number of people, with surveys indicating that many adults experience chronic constipation. The condition accounts for millions of doctor visits annually and hundreds of thousands of emergency department visits. Lifestyle factors such as reduced physical activity and diets low in fiber and fluids are often cited as contributors to the growing issue.
Let Loose is not the first company to offer products designed to aid bowel movements by altering posture on the toilet. Other products, such as the Squatty Potty and TUSHY Ottoman, aim to place users in a squat-like position. However, Let Loose positions its "s--t shoes" as a more aesthetically pleasing option that can be left out in the bathroom and takes up less space.
Since their debut, the "s--t shoes" have garnered attention online, with social media users expressing a mix of amusement and interest. Grounds, who founded Let Loose after experiencing personal digestive issues for years, stated her belief that the shoes will significantly improve users' bowel movements.