The temporary weight loss that people may experience from taking laxatives is actually due to water loss. Losing water is not the same as losing body fat. Many laxatives work by helping the gut absorb more water from the body or keeping water in the gut around the stool.
This water softens the stool, making it easier to pass. It may also cause diarrhea , which is very watery stool. As this additional water passes out with the stool, a person may weigh less after using laxatives. However, this effect is only temporary. Laxatives do not reduce body fat or promote long-term weight loss. Many laxatives are available over the counter for the treatment of constipation.
Misusing laxatives for weight loss may cause the following side effects:. People usually use laxatives to relieve constipation.
If a person takes laxatives when they are not constipated or uses them too frequently, these drugs may cause diarrhea. Osmotic laxatives draw water from the body into the gut to soften stool. Taking too many osmotic laxatives or taking them too frequently may cause dehydration. Taking laxatives can result in an electrolyte imbalance. Certain types of laxative may cause the body to absorb high amounts of electrolytes such as sodium and phosphorus from the gut.
Some laxatives can also lead to low blood levels of potassium , magnesium , or calcium. An electrolyte imbalance may cause weakness and an abnormal heart rhythm.
In severe cases, having an electrolyte imbalance can be life threatening. Some laxatives can stimulate muscles in the gut, helping them promote the movement of stool through it. Taking any stimulant laxatives too frequently may cause dependency. But keep in mind, anyone can abuse laxatives. Laxative abuse can lead to long-term and even life-threatening conditions.
These include:. Laxative abuse can cause a huge range of side effects. You might experience multiple symptoms at once. They could be a warning sign that something is off.
Laxatives are usually safe when used in the short term. But some believe long-term use can lead to dependency. What does the science say? Laxative addiction is likely emotional, not physical. But more research is needed. If laxatives are affecting your health or happiness, get help ASAP. Long-term use can lead to dangerous and sometimes irreversible side effects. You have nothing to be ashamed of. There are tons of amazing resources that can help.
A good first step is to chat with your doctor. You can also see a trained mental health professional or try a therapy app. Not ready to see a doctor? The National Institute of Drug Abuse offers a variety of free services. There are also additional resources available online like counseling services, hotlines, and treatment options. Liver damage: This is rare but possible. One study found that laxative use contributed to liver damage in one participant.
Kidney damage: A case report showed that overusing laxatives can lead to kidney failure. GI damage: A study showed that laxative abuse can mess with GI function and damage your pancreas. Rhabdomyolysis: A case report showed that this condition is linked with laxative abuse. They can help you come up with a recovery plan. There are so many safer, better ways to lose weight without risking your health. Up your fruit and veggie game.
Tenth grade was a whole new world, full of late-night gab sessions with my roommate and new best friend. I started to feel less alone. One day, after listening to me whine about my weight for the hundredth time, my roommate suggested a solution: a little pink pill—a laxative. Later that night, a miracle happened.
My muscles burned, my stomach cramped, and what felt like half my weight in water ran down the toilet. When I looked in the bathroom mirror, I was astonished. My stomach looked distinctly flatter. For a second, the fat girl inside me felt almost After that, I started taking laxatives every day.
The pills felt like Excalibur in my hands. With their help, I began waging war against the fat. Yes, I had to run to the toilet constantly, necessitating all kinds of fibs to get out of class. I'm sure my teachers were suspicious, but nobody ever called my parents or mentioned my frequent bathroom breaks to the dean.
Instead, as the weeks went by and the pounds slipped off, everyone complimented me. My grades were improving, I was feeling more confident, and boys on the street were starting to notice me.
Feeling inspired, I decided to take my mission to a new level—by restricting the food I ate. I started skipping breakfast; for lunch I'd eat only a cup of bran cereal, topped with the smallest amount of skim milk possible.
Dinner wasn't allowed because I couldn't burn off the calories before bed. My new circle of friends also advised me to down laxatives with black coffee—a diuretic that would force excess water out of my body and help make me lean.
Of course, coffee plus laxatives made bathroom visits more necessary than ever. My stomach rumbled all the time, so my pals told me to chew peppermint candies. Chewing on them tricks your stomach into registering the sugar as food, so your muscles stop churning, or so I was told. Over the months, I watched my weight drop on the scale— pounds, then , , I was thrilled. Yet somehow it was never enough. When a couple of girls in my AP English class taught me another trick to keep my body laced with laxatives, I embraced the idea wholeheartedly.
They showed me how to steam open a little blue packet of Equal sweetener and fill it with finely ground laxatives. The thinking was this: I could keep a stash of these Equal packets in my purse and sprinkle the contents on my cereal, coffee, or tea anytime—right in front of my teachers' eyes.
My friends and I thought we were incredibly clever. Yes, we could've just popped a pill in private in a bathroom stall, but this was real subterfuge. Believe it or not, eventually I got myself down to about calories a day.
I'd count the calories in my head in class: grapefruit juice, 32 calories; skim milk, 20 calories; bran cereal, calories. If I started fantasizing about chocolate, I'd dig an Equal out of my pocket and swallow its contents dry.
When the powder kicked in, my stomach muscles would suddenly clench, and I'd feel nauseous, but also relieved. And powerful. And hungry. Always hungry, as I watched the bran flakes—which my body hadn't had time to digest—dip and swirl and disappear down the toilet.
Wider says. Since electrolytes such as calcium and sodium are crucial to several body functions, an imbalance can cause dizziness, fainting, blurry vision, and even death, Dr.
Wider explains. These imbalances can also cause symptoms like abnormal heart rhythms, weakness, confusion and seizures, per the Mayo Clinic. Leavey adds. Bottom line: This is not a weight-loss method you want to try. SELF does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
Any information published on this website or by this brand is not intended as a substitute for medical advice, and you should not take any action before consulting with a healthcare professional. First things first: What are laxatives? Long-term use of laxatives can actually perpetuate your constipation issues. Korin is a former New Yorker who now lives at the beach.
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