Laxatives do not decrease body fat or aid in sustained weight loss. Even high doses of stimulant laxatives, which prompt the movement of stool through the digestive tract, only have a small effect on calorie absorption.
Laxatives will not help you actually lose fat.
The weight loss is temporary and is not actually changing your body fat composition. “Very little to no fat can be lost [with laxatives],” Dr.
Common side effects are constipation, fluid retention, and temporary weight gain (Eating Disorders Review, 1999). Just as any weight loss from using laxatives is temporary; it is important to remember that this weight gain is temporary and is mainly due to increased fluid retention.
Water loss from laxative use is temporary and is not the same as losing body fat. Laxatives do not reduce body weight in the long term. Laxatives have several potential side effects, including diarrhea and dehydration. Eating a nutritious diet and exercising regularly may help a person reach their desired weight.
While laxatives can be used properly under medical guidance to relieve constipation or prepare for certain procedures, they do not cause fat loss or permanent weight reduction on their own. Laxatives only produce temporary loss of water and waste, not actual lowering of body fat or weight.
While most people may experience “weight loss” after taking a laxative, this is a temporary process of the body losing water, not body fat³. This water loss can be almost always replenished when you drink something. To date, there is no convincing evidence to show that laxatives help with long-term weight loss.
You may have read reports of people feeling 'skinnier' or having a flatter stomach after taking laxatives but this is purely down to a loss of water weight, which will immediately return once the body is rehydrated.
Myth: Using laxatives as a form of detox
Fact: Laxatives work by helping the body to draw out liquids from the intestinal walls, making the fecal matter softer and easier to pass. Laxatives are not capable of flushing our waste products or descaling intestinal walls.
In the short-term, you will probably weigh a few hundred grams more if you are constipated because your bowel is full of digested food. Just remember that this is rather insignificant because it hardly impacts your overall body weight.
Stimulant laxatives can be taken by mouth or by suppository. When taken by mouth they work in about seven hours; by suppository they can work in about 30 minutes. These laxatives should never be used more than once every three days because they can cause your bowel to lose its ability to contract.
The fastest-working oral laxatives include mineral oil, saline laxatives (like magnesium hydroxide and magnesium citrate), and stimulant laxatives (like bisacodyl and senna tablets). Common OTC products in this group include Milk of Magnesia, Dulcolax, and Senokot.
#1 Ditch the Sugar
If you find yourself hungry before bed, try snacking on anti-bloating foods instead, like papaya, cucumber, or even a handful of almonds to help keep you full. With the right snack choices at night, you may be more likely to wake up with that flatter belly overnight.
Don't get into the habit of taking laxatives every day to ease your constipation because this can be harmful. In some cases, you may be prescribed a laxative to use regularly, but this should always be supervised by your GP or a gastroenterologist (a specialist in digestive conditions).
Yes, it is possible to lose weight fast and within two weeks healthily and realistically. One way to do it is simply by reducing your calorie intake by 500 to 750 calories per day — you can create a calorie deficit to stimulate weight loss. Another excellent way to shed kilos faster is by being physically active.
Acid-base abnormalities: Too much laxatives can cause an acid-base imbalance in the body, which is supposed to maintain the functions of all our vital organs. If the acid levels in the blood go up, you could suffer from headaches, lack of appetite, increased heart rate and fatigue.
Create an exercise plan to lose weight in 7 days: dieting alone will get you nowhere. Include various exercises for each day and be consistent. Try to mix a burst of high-intensity activities in your regular aerobic exercises. Aerobics, swimming and Zumba are helpful options for rapid weight loss.
Get active, stay active. While you can lose weight without exercise, regular physical activity plus calorie restriction can help give you the weight-loss edge. Exercise can help burn off the excess calories you can't cut through diet alone.