Gain a few pounds
here and take a few laxatives there is another form of yo-yo
dieting. Using laxatives and weight loss sound like a laudable
way to shed pounds. On the contrary, laxatives may prevent the
absorption of certain nutrients that may lead to a nutritional
deficit. Since laxative pills are not for the management of
weight loss, they should not be used to control weight.
Abusing laxatives is detrimental.
It may lead to permanent damage of the bowels coupled with various
severe medical conditions or even death. Anorexic and bulimics
commonly abuse laxatives to ‘purge’ themselves of food intake.
Consequently, frequent and unnecessary use can prove to be dangerous.
It may disrupt the mechanisms of the digestive system. The end-result
can produce a dependency.
In
essence, laxatives have very little to no effect on weight loss.
Once a stimulant laxative gets to work (Correctol or Ex-Lax),
the calories have been absorbed into the body. On the other
side of the spectrum, laxatives create a false sense of weight
loss because of the fluid loss. Within two to three days, the
body will start to retain water. Then the laxative user feels
bloated. The cycle of using it begins.
Many adverse effects are associated
with laxative abuse. They include bloody diarrhea, dehydration
and electrolyte imbalances. After prolonged use many people
are unable to move their bowels without using laxatives. Not
to mention, severe abdominal pain, constipation, nausea and
vomiting are the effects of overuse.
The safest way to reduce weight
entails a moderately reduced-calorie diet coalesced with a regular
fitness program. Important note: Losing more than two pounds
per week represents losing metabolism-boosting muscle opposed
to shedding fat.
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