What Dietitians Want Everyone To Know About Using Laxatives for Weight Loss

Emily Laurence
·4 min read

Ask any dietitian or doctor about the best way to lose weight and they’re sure to hit you with the advice you knew was coming: Eat healthy and exercise. But what if that doesn’t seem to be working or you’re trying to lose weight quickly for an event that’s only a couple of weeks away?

This is when it can be tempting to turn to laxatives for weight loss. Sure, you probably know it isn’t the best way to shed a few pounds, but how bad is it? Whether you’re considering using laxatives for short-term weight loss or plan on using them regularly to stay trim, there are some important facts on how your health will be impacted that dietitians want you to know.

Related: Looking to Lose Weight? Get Started With These 40 Expert and Science-Backed Foods and Drinks

How Do Laxatives Work?

Registered dietitian Erin Palinski-Wade, RD, emphasizes that laxatives are not intended for weight loss. “The main use for laxatives is to prevent and treat constipation,” she says. She explains that they do this by either increasing or loosening stool, depending on the type of laxative.

One type of laxative is a stool softener, also called an emollient laxative. This type of laxative works by increasing the amount of water in stool, making it easier to pass. There are also bulk-forming fiber laxatives, which are exactly what they sound like: They make stool bulkier through fiber.

Another type of laxative is stimulant laxatives, which impact the intestinal walls themselves, not the stool as the first two types of laxatives do. Stimulant laxatives increase muscle contractions in the intestinal walls, encouraging bowel movements.

Related: Four Better Ways to Track Weight Loss

Can Laxatives Work For Weight Loss?

Regardless of what type of laxative you take, Palinski-Wade says it will not work for weight loss. You may see the number on the scale go down, but this is deceiving. “Laxatives stimulate bowel movements, which can trigger a loss of water as well as excrement from the bowels to be removed from the body. This can cause the scale to decrease, but this is not fat being flushed from the body,” she says.

Since only water weight and excrement from the bowels is being flushed out of the body, Palinksi-Wade says that body composition will not be altered by laxative use. Not only are laxatives ineffective for weight loss, but they’re also dangerous. 

“Laxatives should only be taken for the specific purpose of relieving constipation, not losing weight,” says registered dietitian Theresa Shank, RD. She explains that when laxatives are being used for their intended purpose (to relieve constipation), no bodily harm will occur. “It’s when supplements or medications are used outside of their purpose that overtime, unintended health concerns can arise,” Shank says.

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How Do Laxatives Impact the Body Long-Term?

Palinksi-Wade says that using laxatives when they aren’t needed can negatively affect the body both in the short and long term. Short term, she says that they can cause gas and bloating. “Even short-term use can cause dehydration and electrolyte imbalances,” she says. “This can cause low energy levels, dizziness, and can even cause fainting.”

When laxatives are used regularly, Palinksi-Wade says the body can start depending on them for bowel movements. “Excessive laxative abuse can lead to long-term health consequences including damage to the kidneys and digestive system,” she adds. Since laxatives can cause dehydration, she adds that another long-term effect of laxative use is electrolyte and mineral imbalances.

Using laxatives to lose weight or being tempted to do so can be a sign of an eating disorder. In these cases, it’s critical to seek help as eating disorders are life-threatening. To find a therapist or nutritionist who specializes in eating disorder recovery near you, use Eating Disorder Hope’s nationwide database.

If you don’t have an eating disorder but have been using or thinking about laxatives to lose weight, Shank recommends working with a registered dietitian who can help you figure out a weight loss plan that will work with your lifestyle and won’t negatively impact your body in the process.

There are much safer (and enjoyable) ways to lose weight. Leave the laxatives on the shelf for people who actually need them. This is one weight loss measure that’s definitely not worth your time, money or attention. 

Next up, see 16 ways to safely lose weight—no gimmicks! 

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