Most Teens With IBS Are Symptom-Free by Adulthood, Study Finds

A long-term Swedish study found that about two-thirds of 16-year-olds with irritable bowel syndrome no longer met diagnostic criteria by age 24, while 34% had persistent symptoms.

Researchers in Sweden tracked digestive health from adolescence into young adulthood. The team followed more than 2,500 people born in the 1990s. Participants were assessed at ages 16 and 24 using standard criteria for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). The results were published in Gastroenterology in January 2026. Study findings: - About two-thirds of 16-year-olds who met IBS criteria no longer met the criteria at age 24. - Thirty-four percent of participants had persistent IBS symptoms at 24. - The strongest predictor of persistent IBS was having a diagnosis at age 16. - Other factors linked to ongoing symptoms included high psychological stress, poor sleep quality, food hypersensitivities, lower self-rated health, and having at least one parent with IBS. - No significant association was found with adolescent functional dyspepsia, rhinitis, exposure to furred pets, or having six or more antibiotic prescriptions during adolescence and early adulthood. Summary: The study indicates that many adolescents with IBS improve by early adulthood, while a substantial minority continue to have symptoms. Researchers identified several factors associated with persistent IBS and said that early attention to sleep, mental well-being and familial clustering could influence long-term outcomes.