More people are recently begun to notice their weight. This is partially the result of a recent report from the Surgeon General indicating that obesity is becoming an epidemic. This also results from a rise in the number of people developing type II diabetes and learning that if they lose weight they may be able to place the diabetes in remission. There have been many different diets and weight loss plans promoted, including some who say that taking laxatives is a good way to lose weight. This leaves many people wondering, ‘Are there any safe weight loss laxatives?’
To put it very simply, the answer to that question is no. Laxatives have a place in our lives as a treatment for constipation to help prevent the bowel from becoming so packed that it ruptures creating major problems inside the body. However, attempting to forcefully evacuate waste can actually cause a tear in the intestinal wall that leads to a potentially deadly infection.
Anyone who understands the principles of weight loss and keeping excess weight off can tell that the use of laxatives can only result in a maximum of five or six pounds being lost, and most of that being water. This weight will quickly be replaced as soon as the individual eats or drinks anything.
There are different types of laxatives, saline, stimulants, fiber, and stool softeners. Most commercial laxatives contain combinations of two or more of these different types. 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. This is the reason the majority of any weight loss through the use of laxatives would be water weight.
Overdosing on laxatives, which is the most common method used when promoting laxatives as a means of weight loss, can lead to dehydration, severe stomach cramps, and repeated abuse can lead to an inability to move the bowel without having to take medications.
It does not matter what type or combination of types of medications go into a laxatives. The simple fact of the matter is there are no safe laxatives for weight loss. 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.