Does the use of laxatives cause weight loss?
Many people think that by using laxatives, they are losing weight. This is not true. Laxatives affect the large intestine, where the body absorbs water from the fecal matter. The absorption of calories occurs in the small intestine; by the time the digested food reaches the large intestine, all the calories have already been absorbed. Because laxatives induce the loss of water, along with the rapid passage of stool, a person may feel that a weight loss has occurred. Serious side effects of laxatives are a disruption of the normal functioning of the bowel, electrolyte imbalances, and dehydration. Don’t use laxatives for weight control.
