Laxatives for Weight Loss: Are They Effective and Safe?

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In addition to being used to treat constipation, laxatives can also help you lose weight quickly, but that is only a temporary effect. If you abuse these drugs to lose weight, it can affect your health and cause dangerous complications.

1. What is a laxative?

Laxatives are used to help stimulate bowel movements or to loosen stools for easier elimination. Usually indicated for the treatment of constipation.
Some types of laxatives used include:
Stimulant laxatives: They work by increasing the motility of the digestive tract. Osmotic laxatives: These cause the colon to retain more water, which in turn increases the frequency of bowel movements. Bulk-forming laxatives: These move through the intestines without being digested, absorbing water and adding bulk to the stool. Salty Laxatives: With these drugs, water is drawn into the small intestine, helping to promote bowel movements. Lubricating laxatives: These laxatives coat the surface of the stool as well as the lining of the intestines to make it easier to pass. Stool softeners: These allow the stool to absorb more water, helping the stools to be passed. softer to go easier. Among the above laxatives, laxatives that increase bowel movements are often used to lose weight. However, doing this can cause many complications.

2. Can laxatives help with weight loss?

Many people want to eat as much as they want but do not want to gain weight, so they think about using laxatives or emetics to limit the absorption of food into the body. These subjects may be people with bulimia , a form of eating disorder that involves eating large amounts of food and then using laxatives to reduce weight gain.
Studies have been conducted on people with this disorder and found that the use of laxatives is an ineffective method to control body weight.
Another study found that laxatives were not effective in weight control. There have also been no studies to support the idea that laxative use can lead to long-term weight loss.
Although it can lose weight in the short term, it is not sustainable and can cause many very dangerous side effects.

3. Is laxative weight loss safe?

Use of laxatives may cause temporary reduction in water weight. However, studies show that this is not an effective and safe method. Because it can cause health effects such as:
Using laxatives can lead to dehydration One of the common side effects of using laxatives is dehydration. This is because many laxatives work by drawing water into the intestines from other tissues, leading to water loss through the stool.
Common symptoms of dehydration include headache, decreased urine output, increased thirst, fatigue, dry skin, and dizziness.
Laxatives can cause electrolyte imbalances Electrolytes are soluble in body fluids, which are important for helping cells and tissues function properly. Some electrolytes include cl-, na+, k+, mg 2+, ca 2+.
If the balance of these essential electrolytes is out of balance when you abuse a laxative, it can cause dangerous side effects including seizures, confusion, and coma. Other common symptoms of an electrolyte imbalance can include extreme thirst, headaches, heart palpitations, fatigue, weakness, and muscle aches.
Concerns about laxative dependence Although laxatives are generally safe when used in the short term, some people worry they can lead to dependence on the drug when used long term. This may be especially true for stimulant laxatives, which work by increasing intestinal motility. Some other side effects of laxative abuse such as: Rhabdomyolysis: Research shows that laxative abuse can cause rhabdomyolysis, the rapid deterioration of muscle tissue and the release of a protein. harmful to the blood. Gastrointestinal damage: Small studies have shown that some patients with anorexia who have recovered have changes in gastrointestinal function and long-term pancreatic damage as a result of previous laxative use. Liver damage: The use of laxatives contributed to liver damage in one patient studied. Renal Failure: Another case study showed that laxative abuse appeared to have caused severe kidney failure requiring dialysis.

4. How to lose weight effectively and safely?

If you are using unsafe weight loss methods such as laxatives, stop and seek professional help. A safer, healthier option is to lose weight safely.
Here are some proven ways to lose weight safely:
Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables: They are low in calories but high in fiber. Eating more fruits and vegetables has been linked to lower body weight Increased physical activity: Engaging in aerobic exercise several times per week may aid weight loss and help prevent weight gain. Reduce calories: Smaller servings mean fewer calories. One study even found that simply using a smaller plate caused participants to eat less. Eat a protein-rich breakfast: Starting your day with a high-protein breakfast has been shown to reduce appetite all day. Reduce added sugar: Sugar is high in calories, low in nutrients and leads to weight gain. Research shows that drinking sugary drinks is linked to obesity. As such, taking laxatives for weight loss is not a good choice. You should stop if you are taking it. Choose other measures that both improve your health and help you lose weight effectively.

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Reference source: healthline.com