Pros and Cons of Using Laxatives for Weight Loss
(Disclaimer: The following is not intended to be advice
promoting the use of laxatives for weight loss. These statements are facts
regarding how laxatives affect the body; they should not be taken as
professional medical or nutritional advice.)
Using laxatives for weight loss provides a wide variety of
pros and cons. Some people swear that using laxatives is a simple and effective
solution to losing weight. Others are sure that this route is ineffective, and
sometimes even dangerous. Regardless of these opinions, people will make their
own choices regarding the use of laxatives to lose weight. The best way to
approach this issue is to be aware of the pros and cons surrounding laxative
use. Making a factual decision allows a person to make a well informed
decision.
One common misconception about laxatives is that they can be
used to shed fat. This, however, is not the case. Laxatives do not actually
remove fat from the body. People believe laxatives removes fat because of the
stool excretions caused by laxatives, but this is not the case. The only thing
they remove from the body is water and other bodily fluids, along with food
excretions. This does produce loss, but it is not long term weight loss. In addition
to that, the loss of water and bodily fluids can often leaves a person feeling
dehydrated. Dehydration leads to weakness and an overall unhealthy feeling.
Technically, laxatives do remove weight from a person’s
body. This is because of the immediate excretion of fluid and waste that comes
with taking a laxative. This loss, however, is temporary. Since fat is not
being burned, there is no permanent weight loss occurring. Therefore, when
people use laxatives to lose weight, they may find themselves experiencing a
“yo-yo” effect. This means that a person will constantly struggle with losing
and gaining weight repetitively. This is not healthy or comfortable for anyone
to experience.
The intended use for laxatives is to relieve constipation by
removing waste from the body. Laxatives do, in fact, perform this function.
They are intended for occasional use to relieve constipation, but using them on
a regular basis can result in some issues. A body can become somewhat dependent
on laxatives. This can lead to what is known as a “lazy” digestive system; a
body will be unable to produce waste without a large amount of laxatives being
consumed. This kind of problem can also lead to colon infections as well as
irritable bowel syndrome.
One important fact to remember about laxatives is that there
are different types of laxatives. Some are fast acting and they produce a bowel
movement within one to three days. There are stool softeners that loosen stool
to make bowel movements easier, but they do not actually push waste out the way
some laxatives do. Fiber based stool softeners, which are bulk producing
agents, are considered to have the gentlest effects. These are not typically
considered laxatives for weight loss, but are used primarily for healthy bodily
functions. Some over the counter bulk producing agents can be used daily to
keep bowel movements regular, but a person should always consult with their
healthcare professional before using any over the counter product.
There are many side effects that come with laxative use.
Some side effects are minor while others are severe; this depends entirely on a
person’s body chemistry, the laxative they take, and the amount of the laxative
that is taken. When people lose weight rapidly due to excreting water and
waste, they may later experience bloating as a form of water retention. In
addition to that, people often experience uncomfortable diarrhea following the
use of laxatives. Some people who use laxatives for weight loss experience
weight gain when they quit using the laxatives. This weight can actually take
months to get rid of.
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