‘Chasing the ideal gut’: Poop-tracking cameras claim to give health insights. Are they necessary?

The article discusses the emergence of poop-tracking cameras, such as Dekoda and Throne, that claim to provide insights into an individual's gut health. These products, which can cost up to $600, photograph bowel movements and analyze the stool samples, sending the data to a companion app. The article highlights the potential benefits of these technologies, such as the ability to monitor changes in stool and hydration patterns, and the potential to make more informed daily choices. However, it also raises concerns about who owns the data generated by these devices and the necessity of such invasive technologies for general health monitoring. The article suggests that these poop-tracking cameras represent the next frontier of health technology, as consumers increasingly seek to quantify and track various aspects of their health. However, it ultimately questions whether these devices are truly necessary or if they simply contribute to the "chasing the ideal gut" phenomenon.