Nature Reviews Gastroenterology & Hepatology, Published online: 17 March 2026; doi:10.1038/s41575-026-01189-6‘Gut health’ is a widely used term, but there is much uncertainty and inconsistency related to its use. An international panel has now provided a definition that includes consideration of both gastrointestinal function and symptom burden. While advancing the field, the definition also prompts a number of areas of debate.