Obesity is increasingly becoming a huge problem for people nowadays. Likewise, the demand for weight loss products is also increasing globally. Manufacturers have responded to the need with a number of weight reduction products but these so-called weight loss products and diet pills are not always effective and some have dangerous side effects. Wary of these products, people are turning to weight loss laxatives to lose weight.

Can Laxatives Induce Weight Loss?

Laxatives may come in different forms, from food to other forms of drugs like pills and can be taken orally or as a suppository. These weight loss laxatives are used to stimulate bowel movement, thus expelling undigested food from the body. In routine medical examinations, laxatives are used to clear the colon in preparation for rectal examinations.

During digestion, the nutrients and fats in the food are absorbed quickly in the small intestines. When the digested food goes to the large intestines, it is already stripped of the fats and calories supposedly to be removed by the laxatives but laxatives work on the lower intestines by inducing the intestinal muscles to contract and force out body waste. This defeats the purpose of using laxatives for weight loss because what the body expels is waste not fat.

People taking laxatives to get rid of body fat are ignorant about the nature and purpose of laxatives and its effects on the body. They are taken by the idea that because laxatives forces out excess food from the body, the weight loss process begins. The sensation of thinness also reinforces their mistaken belief and they become addicted to the feeling of feeling empty.

They are not also aware that laxatives can be addictive. An innocent use of laxatives for constipation can lead to dependency. People can go as long as 30 days without a "move" if they don't use laxatives. This dependence forces them to increase their dosage because it has come to a point that their bowel systems cannot perform without laxative-induced spasms; it has also been noted that people with eating disorders are most likely to abuse laxatives.

The Truth about Laxatives

-- Laxatives do not help in weight loss. Expelling undigested food is not the same as expelling excess body fats. The substances that are lost with laxative use are water and body wastes. Excessive use of laxatives may lead to dehydration and depletes the body's store of minerals.

-- Using Laxatives can be painful. If your food intake is not enough the bowel movement will be excruciating. The laxative induces the bowel movement forcing it to go through the motions despite insufficient calories to do the function. This causes the painful bowel movement.

-- Regular use can lead to laxative addiction. Long-term use causes the body to depend on laxatives to induce bowel movements.

Addiction to laxatives endangers one's health and bodily functions. The loss of fluids and body minerals leads to an electrolyte imbalance characterized by spasms, muscle pains, and dizzy spells which can be fatal. Renal failure can also occur when the kidneys are damaged.

Those weaning themselves from the habit of will experience fluid retention, constipation, weight gain, and feel bloated. But the increase in weight is only temporary and one's weight will stabilize when the withdrawal symptoms subside. Do not be fooled by the term weight loss laxative.