While laxatives may lead you to lose weight, you will gain it back quickly. Despite what the new “budget Ozempic weight loss” trend may say, laxatives are not your best or safest way to lose weight, but weight loss medications may help.
While laxatives help treat constipation, you may also have heard claims that they support quick and easy weight loss.
Some people, especially on social media platforms, have even proclaimed laxatives as a budget Ozempic. Ozempic is a type 2 diabetes prescription medication some healthcare professionals prescribe off-label for weight loss.
Laxatives work by stimulating and speeding up the movements of your digestive tract, drawing water into the colon, lubricating the intestinal lining, or adding bulk to the stool.
Common over-the-counter (OTC) laxatives in the United States include:
In the end, using laxatives for quick weight loss is not safe or effective, especially if you want to keep the weight off.
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Laxatives can lead to weight loss, but the results are only temporary.
The National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) explains that because most laxatives work on the large intestine, your body has already absorbed most calories by the time the laxative takes effect.
So, laxative weight loss largely comes from losing water. This weight loss may be 1 to 3 pounds maximum.
Laxatives pull water from your body into the intestines, causing stool to absorb more water. This means you excrete more water than usual through bowel movements, causing your overall weight to drop for a while. Once you rehydrate with food or liquids, you’ll regain the water weight you lost.
To date, no studies suggest that using laxatives leads to lasting or significant weight loss.
Is it safe to use laxatives for weight loss?
Using laxatives in an attempt to lose weight comes with several safety concerns. The longer you use laxatives for weight loss, the more chances you have of developing health concerns.
Reduced performance and well-being
A 2019 study of around 500 young, weight-category sports athletes examined methods for quickly dropping weight before a pre-competition weigh-in. While the most popular approaches included dietary carbohydrate restriction and training in a raincoat, some participants also used laxatives.
The study noted that these methods reduced performance, caused mood changes and dizziness, and increased the risk of long-term hormonal, developmental, and growth problems.
Toxicity
Taking very high doses of certain laxatives could be toxic and dangerous.
For instance, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) says that using more than one dose of some OTC laxatives per 24 hours may damage your kidneys and heart.
Dehydration
Laxative use, and especially misuse, may cause dehydration and electrolyte imbalances, along with associated risks like:
low blood sodium levels (hyponatremia)
low blood potassium levels (hypokalemia)
high blood uric acid levels (hyperuricemia)
too high aldosterone hormone levels (hyperaldosteronism)
low blood pressure when standing up (orthostatic hypotension)
irregular heartbeat (palpitations)
increased thirst
dry lips and skin
dark-colored urine
lower urine output
Eating disorders
A 2020 study that included data from over 10,000 women in the United States from 2001–2016 suggested that using laxatives for weight loss may put your health at risk and increase your chance of developing an eating disorder.
Because you’ll regain the lost weight as soon as you rehydrate and are regularly eating, some people may develop a tendency to not eat or eat and take laxatives right away. Neither of these tendencies supports your health and overall well-being.
If you’re preoccupied with food or your weight, feel guilt about food choices, or follow restrictive diets, consider reaching out for support. These behaviors may indicate a disordered relationship with food or an eating disorder.
You can get support by:
speaking with a healthcare professional
contacting the National Alliance for Eating Disorders, which offers a daytime helpline staffed by licensed therapists and an online search tool for treatment options
Side effects and complications of using laxatives for weight loss
In addition to the safety risks introduced above, using laxatives as a weight loss strategy may cause a wide range of side effects, including:
bloating
nausea
vomiting
diarrhea
stomach pain
headaches
What’s more, people with certain health conditions may develop serious complications from excessive and long-term laxative use. Talk with a healthcare professional before taking laxatives, even OTC options, if you have:
a history of severe allergic reactions like anaphylaxis
kidney disease
liver disease
heart disease
intestinal obstruction
Weight loss drugs
Other drugs can support safe, sustainable weight loss for people with overweight and obesity.
The National Institue of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) lists these FDA-approved prescription weight loss medications:
Ozempic is another semaglutide medication. Even though it supports weight loss like Wegovy, the FDA has not approved it for this purpose yet. Still, some healthcare professionals may prescribe it off label for this purpose.
In addition to these prescription weight loss drugs, Alli is an OTC option that contains a lower dose of orlistat.
To learn which option might be right for you, it’s best to talk with a healthcare professional who can offer tailored advice and help develop a weight loss plan that suits your health and preferences. They will likely recommend a nutritious and balanced eating plan and regular physical activity alongside any potential medications.
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Summary
Laxatives may offer temporary weight loss, but this is likely only water weight that you’ll regain once you rehydrate. Using laxatives for weight loss may not be safe.
Instead of using laxatives in the search for a budget Ozempic weight loss drug, it’s best to reach out to a healthcare professional who can develop a tailored plan to kickstart and maintain your weight loss in a safe and effective way.
For example, they can recommend suitable lifestyle changes and possibly prescription weight loss drugs.
