Excessive laxative use is closely associated with an eating disorder calledbulimia nervosa.
Learn more about excessive laxative use, including the symptoms, causes, and treatment options.
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What Is Excessive Laxative Use?
Iuliia Mikhalitskaia / Getty Images
It is important to note people who do not have BN can also misuse laxatives.
Others may do so in an attempt totreat chronic constipation.
Whatever the reason, ongoing laxative misuse is highly predictive of a future eating disorder.
Do Laxatives Cause Weight Lost?
Some people mistakenly believe that laxatives prevent the absorption of calories from food.
Laxatives can make you feel lighter because they quickly flush out waste and water from thecolon.
Even so, the weight loss is minor and temporary.
The pounds will return as soon as you drink fluidswhich youll need to do to stay healthy and hydrated.
According to research, extreme weight loss efforts like laxatives and diuretics do not work.
Laxatives are ultimatelynotsafe for weight loss.
Diarrhea
Using laxatives excessively can lead to gastrointestinal discomfort, gas, loose stool, anddiarrhea.
Laxative abuse can also cause rectal irritation, in part because watery stools overload rectal tissues with fluids.
This can lead to an increased risk of infection and bleeding during bowel movements.
Over time, electrolyte imbalances can negatively affect how well your kidneys and heart work.
In some cases, electrolyte loss can be fatal, leading to coma, seizures, andsudden cardiac arrest.
This is because laxatives “overwork” the digestive tract, gradually reducing muscle tone and nerve signaling.
This can start to slow (rather than speed) digestive muscle contractions.
This is known as a laxative dependency (a.k.a.
“laxative addiction”).
for compensate for the increasedgut motility,these organs have to work overtime to keep up.
In time, this can lead to organ damage and the loss of organ function.
Over time, laxative abuse may even increase your risk of colon cancer.
Depression and Anxiety
Excessive laxative use is also associated with depression and anxiety.
People who misuse laxatives to lose weight often feel shame or embarrassment about their behavior.
They may withdraw from friends and family because they are afraid someone will find out what they are doing.
Your healthcare provider can refer you to a psychiatrist or therapist who specializes in treating eating disorders.
It is also important to stop taking laxatives.
Anutritionistcan also help you set healthy goals in terms of your eating habits and weight.
It is closely linked to an eating disorder called bulimia nervosa that involves cycles of binging and purging.
The treatment may involve your healthcare provider, a nutritionist, and a therapist or psychologist.
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McGill University Office of Science and Society.You’re full of crap.
2013;4(2):113116. doi:10.5847/wjem.j.issn.1920-8642.2013.02.005
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