diff --git a/docker-compose.yml b/docker-compose.yml
index a9add3fb8..05e8ed510 100644
--- a/docker-compose.yml
+++ b/docker-compose.yml
@@ -540,6 +540,17 @@ services:
     # (concrete pin, active watch) from being dropped.
     image: postgres:16.15-alpine
     container_name: healthlog-db
+    # Loads pg_stat_statements so slow queries can be found from measurements
+    # instead of guesses. Loading the library only collects statistics; the
+    # view appears after a one-time `CREATE EXTENSION pg_stat_statements;`
+    # (docs/ops/query-statistics.md). Changing this line restarts the
+    # database once on the next `compose up`.
+    command:
+      - postgres
+      - -c
+      - shared_preload_libraries=pg_stat_statements
+      - -c
+      - pg_stat_statements.track=top
     # cap_drop: [ALL] is deliberately NOT applied here (unlike `app`): the
     # official Postgres entrypoint starts as root, chowns the data
     # directory, and drops privileges to the `postgres` user itself, which
diff --git a/docs/ops/query-statistics.md b/docs/ops/query-statistics.md
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..6689898af
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/ops/query-statistics.md
@@ -0,0 +1,29 @@
+# Query statistics (pg_stat_statements)
+
+From v1.42 the bundled database loads the `pg_stat_statements` library, so the time spent in each query shape can be read from the database itself. Loading the library only collects statistics in shared memory; nothing is sent anywhere.
+
+## Enable the view
+
+The library is loaded through the `command:` of the `db` service in `docker-compose.yml`. The first `docker compose up` after updating restarts the database once. Then create the extension once:
+
+```sh
+docker compose exec db psql -U healthlog -d healthlog -c "CREATE EXTENSION IF NOT EXISTS pg_stat_statements;"
+```
+
+## Read it
+
+The slowest query shapes by total time:
+
+```sh
+docker compose exec db psql -U healthlog -d healthlog -c "SELECT calls, round(total_exec_time) AS total_ms, round(mean_exec_time, 1) AS mean_ms, left(query, 120) AS query FROM pg_stat_statements ORDER BY total_exec_time DESC LIMIT 15;"
+```
+
+The statements are stored with their parameters replaced by placeholders, so values from your records do not appear in the view.
+
+## Reset
+
+```sh
+docker compose exec db psql -U healthlog -d healthlog -c "SELECT pg_stat_statements_reset();"
+```
+
+If you run your own PostgreSQL instead of the bundled one, add `pg_stat_statements` to `shared_preload_libraries` in its configuration and restart it before creating the extension.