Stress and Digestion in Belgium: the 2026 Figures (Biodami Barometer)

How many Belgians live with anxiety in 2026?

According to Sciensano's national Health Interview Survey 2023-2024, 12.8% of people aged 15 and over in Belgium show signs of an anxiety disorder, up from 11.2% in 2018. Depressive symptoms rose even faster, from 9.4% to 12.7% over the same period.

The need for support is high and often unmet: in Sciensano's BELHEALTH cohort (November 2023), 30% of participants said they had needed mental health support in the previous six months, and 38% of them had not consulted a professional.

Is work-related stress increasing in Belgium?

The signals from the workplace are clear. According to INAMI/RIZIV, the national health insurance institute, long-term work incapacity due to depression or burnout rose by 5.2% in 2025 compared with 2024. Women account for more than two thirds of these cases.

How many people have functional digestive disorders?

The largest study on the subject, the Rome Foundation Global Study, surveyed 73,076 adults in 33 countries. 40.3% of those surveyed online met the criteria for at least one functional digestive disorder, now called disorders of gut-brain interaction. These are conditions where the gut works abnormally without visible damage, such as recurring bloating, cramps or irregular transit.

Why are stress and digestion linked?

The gut and the brain are in constant contact, mainly through the vagus nerve. Around 80% of its fibres carry information from the gut to the brain (Breit et al., 2018). Under stress, cortisol and adrenaline put digestion on hold: transit speeds up or slows down and the gut becomes more sensitive. In return, an uncomfortable gut sends alarm signals to the brain, which keeps the stress going.

The two problems frequently go together: research reviews show that around 4 in 10 people living with a functional bowel disorder also report symptoms of anxiety (Chen et al., 2022).

Are women more affected?

Yes. Women are more affected by functional digestive disorders (46.5% vs 34.2%, Rome Foundation), and in Belgium they account for more than two thirds of long-term work incapacity due to depression or burnout (INAMI).

What do 319 Biodami customer reviews reveal?

To see how this link shows up in everyday life, we analysed every published customer review of Digest Stress RELAX on biodami.com, a supplement designed for people whose stress shows up in their gut. 43% of reviews talk about both stress and digestion, without being prompted to.

Customers also come back: 113 of the 208 customers who left a review left several, as they placed new orders. The average rating is 4.62 out of 5.

What helps, according to science?

Because the link runs both ways, the most useful habits act on both sides of the gut-brain axis: slow breathing before meals, regular meal times, 20 to 30 minutes of walking a day, around 30 different plant foods a week, fermented foods and regular sleep. Our guide How stress affects your gut and how to break the cycle explains each step in detail.

Some people also choose a food supplement for busy periods. Magnesium and vitamin B6 contribute to the normal functioning of the nervous system (EFSA-authorised claims); ashwagandha is the most studied plant on cortisol, with precautions to respect (not during pregnancy or breastfeeding, under 18, or with thyroid, liver or heart conditions); and probiotics are studied for their role in the gut-brain axis. Digest Stress RELAX, developed by biologists in Belgium, combines these ingredients.

Methodology

Public data: figures are taken from the latest official Belgian publications available on 28 October 2026 (Sciensano, INAMI/RIZIV) and from peer-reviewed studies (Rome Foundation Global Study, Breit 2018, Chen 2022). Each figure applies only to the population studied by its source and is not combined with figures from other sources.

Biodami customer reviews: export of the 357 reviews published on biodami.com for Digest Stress RELAX up to October 2026, of which the 319 reviews of at least 6 words were analysed, in Dutch, French, German and English. All reviews are counted, including repeat reviews from the same customer after a new order. Topics were classified with multilingual keywords and checked manually on samples. The 21 reviews from a product-testing campaign hardly change the results (41% "both" without them). Limits: Biodami customers only, mostly Dutch-speaking (about 3 reviews in 4). Customer reviews reflect personal experiences; results may vary.

Frequently asked questions

What percentage of Belgians suffer from anxiety?

According to Sciensano's Health Interview Survey 2023-2024, 12.8% of people aged 15 and over in Belgium show signs of an anxiety disorder, compared with 11.2% in 2018.

How common are digestive problems linked to the gut-brain axis?

Very common: in the Rome Foundation Global Study, 40.3% of adults surveyed online in 33 countries met the criteria for at least one functional digestive disorder, with women more affected (46.5%) than men (34.2%).

Can stress cause bloating and digestive discomfort?

Yes. Stress hormones slow down or speed up digestion and make the gut more sensitive. In the Biodami Barometer 2026, 43% of customer reviews mention both stress and digestion, and 1 in 6 explicitly describes stress that goes to the gut.

What is the Biodami Stress & Gut Barometer?

An annual overview by Biodami, a Belgian microbiome specialist, combining official Belgian public health data on stress and digestion with an analysis of its own customer reviews. This is the 2026 edition.