South Gippsland town of Poowong has changed its name for Gut Health Month

A South Gippsland dairy town has been temporarily renamed in a cheeky move for a good cause. Find out what it is.

The South Gippsland town of Poowong has changed its name to raise awareness of gut health this February.

In a tongue-in-cheek nod to some of the symptoms of poor gut health - constipation and diarrhoea- Poowong is on a mission to become Pooright.

On Monday the town hosted the official launch of Gut Health Month 2023, during which residents will participate in Australia’s first gut health community study.

It is hoped the seven-day Poowong Challenge will demonstrate how simple dietary and lifestyle changes can make a massive difference to gut health and overall wellbeing.

“We’re aiming to create the healthiest guts in Australia,” a spokesman for Gut Health Month said.

Poowong has changed its town signage to Pooright to raise awareness for gut health.

South Gippsland Shire Council Mayor Nathan Hersey said the town’s name provided the perfect opportunity to start conversations about gut health.

“Poowong is a beautiful town, nestled in the rolling hills of South Gippsland. It also happens to have a name that attracts a lot of attention,” he said.

“On this occasion, that attention has led to the town hosting the launch of ‘Gut Health Month’ and a community study called the Poowong Challenge which led to a number of local families making simple changes to their diet to improve gut health. This was undertaken under the guidance of informed dieticians.

“We hope that Poowong’s temporary name change to Pooright, will start conversations about gut health and its important role in overall wellbeing.”

New research reveals young Australians and parents of young children are more susceptible to gut-related health issues.

The research, commissioned by Dietitian Connection, looked at the frequency of gut related health issues such as bloating, burping, stomach rumbling, constipation, and diarrhoea.

The gut health month launch event in Poowong.

Accredited practising dietitian and Gut Health Month spokesperson, Nicole Dynan, said while men and women seemed to experience these issues at similar frequencies, the research showed there were differences when it came to generation and household dynamics.

“The research shows that younger generations, Gen Z and Millennials, are more likely to always / often experience gut related issues (49% and 51% respectively) compared to older generations across Gen X (40%) and Baby Boomers (34%),” Dynan said.

Poor diet, high stress and lack of sleep are believed to be key factors in high levels of gut ill-health in younger generations.

Covid is also believed to be playing a role in the rise of gut-related issues.

“In my private practice, Covid is impacting patients’ gut health and the science shows it may impact up to 20% of people who are infected,” Dynan said.

“A new review has speculated that because Covid can directly influence the gut, it may also be a trigger for functional bowel disorders such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).”

A healthy diet is the best first step you can take towards a healthier, happier gut and seeing a dietitian is the best way to get personalised advice and support.