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Laxative Weight Loss
This article describes the nature of laxative weight loss and why it should be avoided. It’s a myth that laxatives can help you to lose weight. Laxative weight loss is not really a rational approach to weight loss as you are expelling what would be removed anyway and what is expelled has already had much calorific content extracted. Of course there is always a concern that if you are constipated then this will be preventing you from realising the weight loss you desire and therefore taking a laxative would be expected anyway but this would be in the context of an isolated event rather than as a regular manifestation of an eating disorder.
Inveterate use of laxative weight loss is unhealthy and frequently a manifestation of an eating disorder such as bulimia. Any constipation which may be suffered by such people is due to their unbalanced eating habits and may result in severe metabolic dysfunction. Its quite common for people suffering from bulimia to take laxatives and diuretics (drugs that make you urinate) in an attempt to expel excess calories but abuse of laxatives and diuretics in this way can destroy the proper functioning of the intestines and the kidneys. Note that the food is absorbed in the small intestine and laxatives only expel what is in the large intestine therefore laxatives cannot help with weight loss and their use will in fact lead to unhealthy water loss, break down of intestinal mucous membranes, increased susceptibility to infections and bowel tumours and may even cause an irregular heartbeat.
Laxatives were never designed as weight loss tablets, their persistent use can prevent nutrient absorption and so in that way they may indirectly contribute to weight loss but this is far from being a healthy weight loss. Laxatives can change your digestive processes quite radically and you can become dependent on them.
In conclusion, keeping your bowel function healthy is important but part of this is using laxatives only when absolutely necessary to help maintain natural function. The most vital message to take from this article is that laxative weight loss is a bad idea, it does not work and indeed it can be dangerous. Always consult your doctor if you are considering using laxatives.
By John Kirkham
Inveterate use of laxative weight loss is unhealthy and frequently a manifestation of an eating disorder such as bulimia. Any constipation which may be suffered by such people is due to their unbalanced eating habits and may result in severe metabolic dysfunction. Its quite common for people suffering from bulimia to take laxatives and diuretics (drugs that make you urinate) in an attempt to expel excess calories but abuse of laxatives and diuretics in this way can destroy the proper functioning of the intestines and the kidneys. Note that the food is absorbed in the small intestine and laxatives only expel what is in the large intestine therefore laxatives cannot help with weight loss and their use will in fact lead to unhealthy water loss, break down of intestinal mucous membranes, increased susceptibility to infections and bowel tumours and may even cause an irregular heartbeat.
Laxatives were never designed as weight loss tablets, their persistent use can prevent nutrient absorption and so in that way they may indirectly contribute to weight loss but this is far from being a healthy weight loss. Laxatives can change your digestive processes quite radically and you can become dependent on them.
In conclusion, keeping your bowel function healthy is important but part of this is using laxatives only when absolutely necessary to help maintain natural function. The most vital message to take from this article is that laxative weight loss is a bad idea, it does not work and indeed it can be dangerous. Always consult your doctor if you are considering using laxatives.
By John Kirkham
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