Anorexia and Laxatives

[Jon_in_london]

So how do laxatives make you lose weight?

Of course, I can see how you could lose some weight, like a kilogram at the most through throrough bowel evacuations.

But surely you cant lose serious weight, lose fat, by taking laxatives? Unless the food just passes straight through without being disgested *ugh!*?

 

[TruthSeeker]

Laxatives, for example, may seem to move food through the body more rapidly and may relieve abdominal distention after binging, but they do not prevent the calories in the food form being absorbed. The temporary weight loss that is seen after using laxatives is mostly due to loss of water in the bowel movement, and will be naturally regained. Misuse of laxatives is harmful in several ways: they upset the body's electrolyte balance; they lead to dehydration; they damage the digestive tract lining; and they let the bowels get lazy, so that one may experience constipation when laxatives are not used.

from here