Floating or Sinking Stools?

[Tatin109]

I've heard numerous sites say that floating stools are a sign of good health and a sign that the body has absorbed all of the nutrients. Then I've heard sites say the opposite, that floating stools were a sign of poor nutrient absorption and sinking stools were better. So which is really better?

[aheart]

  I knew it wasn't normal but I always thought it meant too much fiber in your diet.

[Christopher R Watters, MD]

Floating stools are a classic sign of malabsorption. Fat that travels through the intestine undigested will produce stools that float. These are typically loose. This is referred to as steatorrhea.