Laxative Abuse In Anorexia And Bulimia
Here's Why Abusing Laxatives Is Dangerous

Laxative abuse is one of the common symptoms of anorexia or bulimia. Abusing laxatives is a way for victims of eating disorders to purge and lose weight quickly. However, this is not without serious health consequences.

Laxatives are easily available over-the-counter at just about any drug store, and are quite affordable.

This makes laxative abuse very easy. Such easy accessibility is very tempting for those suffering from eating disorders and impulse control disorder.

Eating disorder statistics show that an extremely high percentage (up to 90 percent) of disordered eaters have used laxatives, especially during (or after) binge eating sessions.

In eating disorders, abusing laxatives is a very impulsive behavior.

It's a form or purging (getting rid of food) so that one can "feel empty". There's a sense of euphoria in the feeling of emptiness.

This is because most people with anorexia and other eating disorders believe that they are losing weight as long as it doesn't make it past the stomach.

But, there's a problem....

The Truth About Laxative Abuse

One of the peculiar things about the abuse of laxatives is that most people really don't understand how they work. Type 2 anorexics, bulimics or binge eaters believe that a laxative helps them to get rid of recently consumed food.

This is simply not true. Since the laxative actually does its work in the colon, this means that food (calories) is allowed to pass through the stomach and be absorbed by the body. This means that it's all for nothing!

Well, most people with eating disorders do insist that they're losing weight, which may be true in the very short term. Water weight may be lost initially, but this effect doesn't last long.

Within a couple of days, the body will begin to retain fluids in order to prevent dehydration symptoms, and to make up for what it has lost.

Laxative Abuse - Health Risks And Medical Complications

People suffering from eating disorders often abuse laxatives several times a day. Behavior such a this has some serious medical effects that pose a great risk to one's health.

Whether in liquid, powder or pill form, abusing laxatives can result in addiction and dependency.

One might also experience any of the following:

• Lazy Bowel Syndrome
• Chronic diarrhea
• Nausea
• Abdominal cramps
• Electrolyte imbalance
• Severe dehydration
• Protein loss
• Internal bleeding
• Heart damage
• Permanent damage to internal organs

If you (or someone you know) is engagine in laxative abuse, please get medical help as soon as possible.

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