<![CDATA[Functional constipation and irregular bowel habits in preschool children are often linked to low dietary fiber intake and are difficult to manage with practical, family-friendly strategies. This study evaluated a locally available, child-acceptable fiber source—purple sweet potato—as a feasible alternative to commercial fiber supplements. We used a quasi-experimental one-group pretest–posttest design over 14 days among 36 preschool children. Primary outcomes were bowel movement frequency, stool consistency, and constipation symptom score. Bowel movement frequency increased from 4.0±1.6 to 5.6±1.7 times/week (Δ=+1.6; p<0.001), stool consistency improved from 2.5±0.5 to 3.1±0.6 (Δ=+0.6; p<0.001), and constipation symptoms decreased from 3.2±1.1 to 1.9±1.2 (Δ=−1.3; p<0.001), with large effect sizes across outcomes. In conclusion, a two-week purple sweet potato–based fiber intervention was associated with meaningful improvements in bowel regularity, stool quality, and constipation-related symptoms. Daily monitoring supports its practical use in community and early childhood settings.]]>
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