Laxatives for Weight Loss Results and Long-Term Side Effects

The disruption of weight loss depends on the type of diet, exercise intensity and the type of supplements used. There are different types of weight loss supplements such as creatine, whey protein, fat burners, and laxatives.

Weight loss is a necessity for various medical, social, and ethical reasons. Obesity usually occurs due to excessive calorie intake and sedentary lifestyles. Gaining and losing weight is based on calorie consumption and exertion, If you eat more than you burn, you would gain more weight due to the excess calories.  When you burn more calories than you eat you lose weight.

Weight loss can be achieved through the combination of a proper diet and effective training regimen. There are different types of fats that could eliminate weight loss. Some people have water fight which makes your stomach bloated.

There are different crash diets and weight loss supplements such as fat burners that are used for eliminating body fat and water fat. Excess fat stores in different specific areas of the body such as the lower abdomen, hips, gluteus, and breast. Losing these excess fats can be achieved with calorie restriction and efficient exercise and training regimen.

Excessive calorie consumption would result in various gastrointestinal problems such as constipation, diarrhea, nausea and bloating.  Eating too many foods within a short period of time could slow down the digestion process of the body. Before talking about how to remove excess fat, when the end to understand the physiology of digestion. The major classes of food are converted into smaller molecules and stored as a nutrient for proper functioning of the body.The actual contents and waste products are excreted in the form of feces and urine. Situations and conditions that lead to reducing fecal and urine excretion could lead to bloating and weight gain.

Bad lifestyle choices and eating habits especially diet low in fiber, fruits, and vegetables could cause constipation and weight gain. The most common medication used or eliminating this gastro-intestinal condition is called laxative.

Weight gain can occur due to the reduced passage of stools and constipation; Most people add excess weight on the scale because they feel bloated and are constipated. This is one of the reasons why laxative is a widely used medication for weight loss.

A laxative is a type of medication that stimulates bowel movement, softens stools, and increases the speed of fecal excretion. The mechanism of action of using a laxative for weight loss is to stimulate a bowel movement.

Types of laxatives

There are different types of laxatives, classified based on their mechanism of action. The most common types include:

1. Stimulants laxative: These types of laxatives stimulate and enhance bowel This is often used by people suffering from constipation and the same effects can be achieved by taking fiber-rich foods. This helps in weight loss because bowel movement stimulation helps in eliminating waste products and unwanted materials from the body. The removal of these waste products eliminates bloating which leads to weight loss.
2. Osmotic laxatives: These types of laxative stimulate water retention by the colon. When the colon retains are water, there is an increased frequency of bowel movement which helps in losing weight. This type of laxative is often used by people with low body fat percentage but with a bloated stomach and excessive weight.
3. Bulk-forming laxatives: These types of laxatives increase the volume of the fecal mass by increasing the bulk of the stool. This type of laxative is more effective for people that complain of scanty and infrequent still despite eating. They help to increases the quantity and volume of
4. Saline laxatives: Theses types of laxatives draw water to the small intestine, aids digestion, and weight loss.
5. Lubricant laxatives: These types of laxatives lubricate the lining of the gastrointestinal system hereby leading to the easy passage of The frequent and easy modification can help in achieving your weight loss goals.
6. Stool Softners: hardened stool could make definition and weight loss more difficult. Stool softeners are the types of laxatives that reduce the hardness and maintain the consistency of stool.

5 Side Effects of using laxative

There are different side effects of using laxatives depending on the type and duration of usage. The most common side effects include:

1. Dehydration: This is the most common side effects of laxative due to their water pulling mechanism of action. Most laxative works by pulling water from other tissues into the colon to soften the stool and aid defecation. ||This could result in body dehydration which can be characterized by polydipsia, oliguria, dry skin, sunken eyes, colored urine, and headache. The body tries to compensate for the Increased water drawn into the colon by conserving water excretion (oliguria), stimulating excess water intake (Polydipsia and reducing urine dilution (Colored Urine).
2. Electrolyte dysbalance: laxatives can cause electrolyte dysbalance in the body by altering the normal homeostasis mechanism of the Depending on the electrolytes involves, these can present different symptoms such as a headache, muscle ache, muscle spasm, seizures, confusion, and coma.
3. Addiction and dependency: There is increased the risk of addiction and drug dependency associated with long-term use of a laxative. It has been discovered that prolonged used of laxatives leaves people with dependent use and addiction. Most people find it difficult to lose weight after laxative Some individuals could experience withdrawal syndrome which involves changes in behavioral patterns after stoping laxative.
4. Rhabdomyolysis: prolonged laxative use could predispose the body to a condition called rhabdomyolysis. It is a condition that involves break down of skeletal muscle and release of myoglobin into the blood.
5. Gastrointestinal damage:  Long-term laxative use could cause serious organ damage due to excessive activities of these organs. Some of the organs damaged by prolonged laxative use include kidney, liver, stomach, and

There are a lot of cheaper and safer ways to lose weight without using laxatives. A proper diet rich in fruits and vegetables combined with consistent physical activity and portion size can help you lose weight without compromising your health. Stay safe, eat well, sleep well, and move more.

References

Eating Disorder Hope. (2018). Laxative Abuse: Side Effects and Long-Term Health Risks. [online] Available at: https://www.eatingdisorderhope.com/blog/laxative-abuse-long-term-risks [Accessed 1 Jan. 2018].

Fitfinally.com. (2018). The Weight Loss Elephant In The Room –. [online] Available at: https://www.fitfinally.com/the-elephant/ [Accessed 1 Jan. 2018].

Healthline. (2018). Laxatives for Weight Loss: Do They Work and Are They Safe?. [online] Available at: https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/laxatives-for-weight-loss#section4 [Accessed 1 Jan. 2018].

Healthline. (2018). Laxatives for Weight Loss: Do They Work and Are They Safe?. [online] Available at: https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/laxatives-for-weight-loss#section4 [Accessed 1 Jan. 2018].