
Laxatives are commonly used to treat constipation, but they can also be misused by people with eating disorders such as anorexia or bulimia to feel thin or empty. This can lead to laxative abuse and addiction, with serious health consequences. While laxatives can help move food through the body, they do not aid weight loss as most calories are absorbed in the small intestine before laxatives take effect in the large intestine. Misuse of laxatives can cause dehydration, mineral deficiencies, and disturbances in electrolyte balance, which can be life-threatening. People can become psychologically and physically dependent on laxatives, and experience constipation, diarrhoea, and gastrointestinal issues when trying to stop using them. Withdrawing from laxatives should be done with professional support.
Characteristics | Values |
---|---|
Reason for use | To eliminate unwanted calories, lose weight, "feel thin", or "feel empty" |
Laxative effectiveness | Laxatives do not reduce body fat or promote long-term weight loss and have a minimal effect on a decrease in caloric intake |
User demographics | Women between 14 and 19, young people, people with eating disorders |
Prevalence | 56.3% of people with eating disorders, 71.6% of people with purging anorexia, 25% of 2,300 adults seeking treatment for eating disorders, 10.5% of 13,600 young people aged 13-25 |
Side effects | Muscle spasms and cramps, urinary tract infections, intestinal paralysis, increased risk of colon cancer, gastrointestinal disturbances, tremors, abdominal pain, rectal bleeding, cardiovascular complications |
Health complications | Dehydration, disturbance of electrolyte and mineral balances, constipation, infections, internal organ damage, colon cancer, death |
Treatment | Team of health professionals with expertise in treating eating disorders, including a physician, psychiatrist, psychotherapist, and dietician |
What You'll Learn
Laxatives are commonly misused as a weight-loss tool
Laxatives are intended to treat constipation by softening stools or stimulating the lower intestine to push out stool. However, laxatives are commonly misused as a weight-loss tool, which can have severe health consequences. This misuse is often driven by a desire to eliminate unwanted calories, lose weight, or "feel empty". The belief that laxatives can rush out food and calories before they are absorbed by the body is a myth. By the time a laxative acts on the large intestine, most foods and calories have already been absorbed by the small intestine.
Laxatives do not reduce body fat or promote long-term weight loss and have a minimal effect on decreasing caloric intake. The weight loss that occurs from laxative misuse is temporary and due to a decrease in "water weight". As soon as the individual consumes fluids and the body rehydrates, the weight returns. This temporary reduction in the appearance of bloating can reinforce a false sense of weight loss, perpetuating a cycle of misuse.
The overuse of laxatives can lead to severe dehydration, a reduction in electrolytes, and a disturbance in mineral balance, such as magnesium, sodium, potassium, and phosphates. Dehydration and electrolyte imbalances can have serious health consequences, including heart problems, kidney failure, and even death. Additionally, chronic laxative misuse can cause long-term and potentially permanent damage to the digestive system, including intestinal paralysis, increased risk of colon cancer, and irritable bowel syndrome.
Laxative misuse is often associated with individuals who have body dysmorphia or eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa. It can become an unhealthy coping mechanism for dealing with feelings of shame, depression, the need for control, or anxiety. The pressure to achieve an ideal body weight and the easy accessibility of laxatives further contribute to their misuse. Recognizing the signs of laxative misuse and seeking appropriate treatment are crucial to mitigating the physical and psychological risks associated with this dangerous behaviour.
Popcorn: Natural Laxative or Snack?
You may want to see also
Laxative abuse is linked to eating disorders
Laxative abuse is a common manifestation of eating disorders. Laxatives are often misused by individuals with eating disorders as a method to expel food quickly from the body. This is a dangerous misconception as laxatives primarily affect the lower digestive tract, long after most calories have been absorbed. The weight loss experienced is mainly due to water loss, which can be life-threatening.
Laxatives are commonly taken to help loosen the bowels for constipation. They are available over the counter without a prescription and are relatively safe when used as intended and according to the recommended doses. However, when taken over long periods, laxatives can lead to misuse, abuse, and dependence.
Laxative abuse occurs when an individual wants to use laxatives to lose weight. This is driven by the incorrect belief that laxatives will quickly move food through the body and clear out calories before they can be absorbed. However, by the time food reaches the large intestine, where laxatives act, most calories have already been absorbed by the small intestine. The bowel movement triggered by laxatives contains little actual food, fat, or calories. Instead, laxative abuse leads to the loss of water, minerals, electrolytes, and indigestible fiber and wastes from the colon. This loss of water weight returns as soon as the individual drinks fluids and rehydrates.
The abuse of laxatives can lead to a range of gastrointestinal issues, including intestinal nerve damage, laxative dependency for bowel movement, and, in severe cases, ischemic colitis, a condition where blood flow to the colon is reduced, leading to inflammation and ulceration. The overuse of stimulant laxatives can also wear down the colon's lining, increasing the risk of colon infections and chronic constipation.
Laxative abuse is often intertwined with eating disorders, where the misuse of laxatives is a symptom of a larger psychological issue. This highlights the need for a comprehensive treatment approach that addresses both the physical and mental health aspects of abuse. Treatment for laxative abuse should include medical intervention, detoxification, psychological support, therapy, and nutritional counseling.
Powerful Laxatives: Options Beyond Miralax
You may want to see also
Laxative misuse can cause severe dehydration
Laxatives are commonly used to treat constipation, but they can also be misused by people with eating disorders as a way to lose weight and “feel empty". This misuse can lead to a range of serious health issues, including severe dehydration.
Laxatives are available over the counter and are meant to be taken orally or in liquid form to help loosen the bowels. They work by increasing the bulk of the stool, softening it, or stimulating the bowels to push out the stool. However, when misused, laxatives can cause the body to lose vital fluids and electrolytes, leading to dehydration.
Dehydration due to laxative misuse can have severe and even life-threatening consequences. It can cause a person to experience symptoms such as muscle weakness, dizziness, thirst, reduced urination, blurred vision, and fainting. In extreme cases, severe dehydration can lead to kidney damage and even death.
The chronic use of laxatives can also lead to a disturbance in the balance of minerals like magnesium, sodium, potassium, and phosphates, which are essential for optimal muscle function. This, in turn, can impair the function of vital organs, potentially causing irreversible damage.
To prevent severe dehydration and other health complications, it is crucial to seek medical advice if you or someone you know is misusing laxatives. Treatment for laxative misuse typically involves a comprehensive approach that includes stopping laxative use, psychological intervention, and supportive care.
Senokot Laxative Gummies: Safe or Not?
You may want to see also
Laxative abuse can lead to physical and psychological dependence
The chronic use of laxatives can cause severe dehydration, a reduction in electrolytes, and a disturbance in mineral balance, including magnesium, sodium, potassium, and phosphates, which allow muscles to work optimally. As a result, vital organs may become impaired and unable to function properly, leading to irreversible damage.
Laxative abuse can also cause long-term and potentially permanent damage to the digestive system, including chronic constipation, damage to the nerves and muscles of the colon, and intestinal paralysis. The intestines may lose normal muscle function and nerve response, and can no longer contract to evacuate stool normally. This is sometimes referred to as a "lazy colon", where the colon no longer eliminates waste efficiently, and waste sits in the intestines for far longer than normal.
The abuse of laxatives can also lead to psychological issues such as depression, a lack of self-confidence, and social isolation. The pressure to be thin and the associated feelings of shame can further complicate matters.
Laxatives: Crushed, Still Effective?
You may want to see also
Laxatives are easily accessible
Laxatives are commonly used to treat constipation, but they can also be misused by individuals seeking weight loss. While laxatives are intended to be taken orally, they can also be administered in liquid form. They work by softening stools or stimulating the bowels to promote bowel movements. However, their accessibility has led to abuse, especially among those with eating disorders, who may view laxatives as a tool for weight loss or a means to control their body.
The ease of purchasing laxatives, often without age restrictions, enables individuals to obtain them discreetly. This accessibility, coupled with misconceptions about their effectiveness for weight loss, makes laxatives prone to abuse. They are readily available in various forms, such as pills, powders, liquids, suppositories, and enemas, making them convenient for misuse.
The availability of laxatives without a prescription contributes to their widespread use and potential for abuse. While they are intended to relieve constipation, individuals may take them for extended periods or in higher doses than recommended, leading to physical and psychological dependence. This misuse can result in severe health consequences, including dehydration, electrolyte disturbances, mineral deficiencies, and long-term digestive issues.
Beano: Natural Laxative or Myth?
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
Laxative abuse is the repeated use of laxatives to purge calories or food. People with eating disorders may use laxatives to lose weight or "feel thin". However, this is a misconception as laxatives do not promote long-term weight loss and only cause a temporary reduction in "water weight".
Side effects of laxative abuse include muscle spasms and cramps, urinary tract infections, intestinal paralysis, and an increased risk of colon cancer. It can also lead to severe dehydration, a reduction in electrolytes, and a disturbance in mineral balance.
Some signs of laxative abuse include recurring bouts of chronic constipation and diarrhoea, gastrointestinal disturbances, cramping, nausea, and cardiovascular complications resulting from severe electrolyte imbalances.