Can I Safely Lose Weight Using Laxatives?
Are All Weight Loss Laxatives Harmful?
These days, more and more people are worried about their weight. This could have something to do wit the fact that the Surgeon General posted a warning on the dangers of obesity. Some people claim that laxatives are a great weight loss solution and advocate adding them to dietary programs to reduce body mass. Even skeptics want to know ‘Are all weight loss laxatives harmful?’
There is a plain response to that question: no. Laxatives are only designed to clear solid waste that obstructs the intestines. When used to forcefully evacuate the bowel, however, they can cause tears in the intestinal wall which may lead to an infection.
The principles behind how laxatives work in the body are the reason why their use will only result in a short term weight loss of a very limited amount–usually no more than 5 or 6 pounds. This loss can be maintained only until the next consumption of food or drink.
There are many laxatives such as stool softeners, stimulants, fiber, and saline. Laxatives found in stores are often a mixture of at least two different varieties. It is important to note that most of these work by taking water away from the other tissues in the body and forcing it into the intestine in an effort to soften the stool and make it pass more easily. As a result, the weight loss enjoyed by the laxative user is truly only water.
No laxatives are safe for weight loss, end of story. Even if there were, the limited scope of function that laxatives serve would not allow for any significant weight loss nor for any weight loss of a permanent nature.
The truth is laxatives take water away from other areas of the body to flush waste. The excess water makes the waste pass much easier and in a much softer form.
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