Do laxatives cause weightloss?

ben500

Do laxatives cause weightloss?

No that's just a load of old shlt!

dmg24

robwend wrote: »

i had a powerful painkiller on perscription and kept repeating it for 12 years. till they then called me in and said they were just doing a periodical check! blimey 12 years is a long period lol

My mum had the same thing with her antidepressants. Scary!

The other posters are correct, laxatives do not inhibit the absorption of fat, and therefore do not make people lose actual body fat.

Extreme loss of body weight can be an indicator of another condition, so your friend really needs to go back to her GP asap x

dmg24

ben500 wrote: »

Do laxatives cause weightloss?

No that's just a load of old shlt!

This is a really sensitive subject to some of us. Perhaps your jokes would be more suitable on the Arms board?

shazrobo

i've been taking laxatives as prescibed by the hospital specialist for the last 4 years and i havent lost any weight

astonsmummy

I would of thought if laxatives are prescribed then she isnt having regular bowel movements

DrFluffy

mr_rush wrote: »

laxative abuse can cause weight loss but just using senna a couple of times a day shouldn't be causing weight to drop at 'an alarming rate'

Depends on how you look at it - don't laxatives cause water loss (and abuse can cause dangerous electrolyte imbalances in the body with the associated risk of heart attack and death. (I think it's important to make that distinction before a whole wave of bulimics read this and make the switch to "brown water" ).

To the OP - does your friend have or doctor think she may have a thyroid problem? Does she actually have consipation? Might be why he's prescribed them. What laxative is it - might be that it has a second 'non-shittin' indication...

Sugar_Coated_Owl

shazrobo wrote: »

i've been taking laxatives as prescibed by the hospital specialist for the last 4 years and i havent lost any weight

At the recommended dose laxatives shouldn't cause you any problems. However, it's a totally different story when you find yourself abusing laxatives on a regular basis.

natalie1980_2

There is a laxitive that can coz weightloss, its called Celevac, doctors give it out to people who are not suitable for Xenical or Reductil (diet pills) so it might be that, that she is using and thats why she is losing weight.

DrFluffy

Celevac doesn't actually cause weight loss directly - it's cellulose based so makes you feel full, therefore you don't eat as much...