Victoria Song, the senior reviewer behind Verge’s Optimizer newsletter, has a new angle on the internet’s current obsession with fiber. The trend is called fibermaxxing, and it involves people posting about eating lots of fiber to improve their digestion. The twist: one of the creators she profiles starts a recipe video by promising to “explode your butthole.”
The video in question is from @hallysicle, a TikTok creator who describes herself as a “chaotic wellness” creator. She narrates a pesto recipe with deadpan scatological jokes while maintaining a cottagecore kawaii aesthetic. The result, according to Song, is a genuinely good recipe that yields 18 grams of fiber from two cups of blanched peas. Song’s spouse’s flabbergasted face is part of the package.
The Fiber Guy and the Bean Guy
The newsletter focuses on two significant figures within the fibermaxxing community. One of them is Liam, a man who has earned the nickname “the Bean Guy.” for his work taking apart nutritional fads. He is fond of beans and fiber, and he often shows up in the comments sections of any recipe featuring beans. On one occasion, he appeared as an actual ghostly beanfather in a video.
On the other side is Fiber Daddy, a dry influencer who sells a supplement called Liquid Salad. He tells viewers they are being “a total dumdum” for throwing away their broccoli stems. He also claims to poop four times daily.
Song points out that about 95 percent of Americans do not meet the daily suggested amount of fiber. This observation makes the healthcare providers entering the trend just as significant.
Why Fiber Is Suddenly Everywhere
Song makes the case that there’s no one cause behind the internet’s fixation on fiber and pooping. Instead, he points to a few broader health trends coming together at the same time as the influencer content economy. Among those trends, the biggest driver is GLP-1 usage, which has become what he calls the GLP-1 economy.
These medications curb hunger, so those taking them need to focus on getting enough protein and fiber into their meals. The aim is to stop muscle from wasting away and ease any stomach problems that come with the treatment. A case in point is Grüns gummy bears, which target GLP-1 users through their advertising.
The most recent Gallup survey shows that GLP-1 use among Americans has risen to 11 percent in 2026, up sharply from the 3 percent recorded just two years earlier.
Colon Cancer and Early-Onset Risk
More and more videos now show young people in their 20s and 30s talking about their struggles with colon cancer. These clips frequently get extra support from gastroenterologists and dietitians who use social media to spread the word about the growing trend and its early warning signs.
A recent study found that mortality from colorectal cancer in people under 50 has been increasing by 1.1 percent per year since 2005. It is now the leading cause of cancer-related death in that cohort.
The American Cancer Society’s current estimate is that a growing share of new diagnoses, 45 percent, involves people under 65 years old. That figure marks a notable rise from the earlier rate of 27 percent, which stood at 1995.
What Fiber Actually Does
Complex carbohydrates that the body can’t break down make up dietary fiber, which comes mainly from plant foods. There are two kinds: soluble fiber, which mixes with water to form a gel-like material inside the gut that lowers cholesterol and blood glucose levels, and insoluble fiber, which increases the size of poops, makes them easier to pass, and helps stop constipation.
Eating plenty of fiber leads to a fuller feeling after meals, which helps keep weight under control. That same kind of diet also benefits the digestive system as a whole, since it can help prevent hemorrhoids, feed the helpful bacteria living inside the gut, and lower the chance of getting colorectal cancer.
“Put plainly, dietary fiber is a type of complex carbohydrate that the body can’t digest and primarily comes from plant foods.”
The Limits of Fibermaxxing
The quality of fiber available varies widely, and the current fashion carries a drawback. Platforms frequently strip away subtlety in order to market products. Merchants pushing fiber supplements are now joining the rush.
Optimizer previously covered three such supplements, including AG1, whose Essentials Gummies product gets a whole fiber page dedicated to it. The product is better known for greens powder.
Online, most fibermaxxers lean toward diets built around whole foods high in fiber. Their posts often provide ideas for fitting in vegetables, oats, beans, or leafy greens during hectic weeks, sometimes presented in amusing fashion. The content stays fairly mild, even if you come across plenty of talk about poop and a large number of poop emojis.
Proteinmaxxing and Its Limits
Protein-focused efforts carry their own difficulties. The MAHA movement led by RFK Jr. has centered on protein, a substance that most Americans already get enough of. The trend of pushing protein intake to the limit has attracted notice for overlooking the wider nutritional context.
The difference with fiber is that virtually everyone consumes too little of it, and the results can be serious. The GLP-1 economy, early-onset colorectal cancer, and the sheer volume of content all point to the same conclusion.
The Verdict on Fibermaxxing
The current direction blends sincere guidance with light-hearted humor. The debunking done by @hallysicle’s pesto video is genuinely good, and the Bean Guy’ carries real worth. However, the people pushing these supplements are operating for profit, and the rush to join them is growing larger.
The newsletter from Song balances praise for the good recipes with warnings against the hype. The joke about exploding buttholes lands well, while the science on fiber holds up just as solidly.
The message is straightforward: fiber matters, and the studies confirm it.
Source material: “This blog could help you poop better,” The Verge.
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