Diet pills are weight loss aids available over-the-counter or in stronger doses by prescription only. According to "Nutrition and You" by Joan Salge Blake, Americans spend over $30 billion each year on diet pills and diet products. Laxatives, which help relieve constipation, are also available in different over-the-counter forms. Laxatives are intended to be a short-term solution for constipation and not meant to be used regularly.
Types of Diet Pills
Some common over-the-counter diet pills decrease appetite and the absorption rate of dietary fat. Instead of entering your bloodstream, some dietary fat is eliminated from your body through your stool when taking these pills.
Considerations
According to MayoClinic.com, the efficacy of most diet pills is questionable; some pills may even be dangerous to your health. Because diet pills are not regulated by the US Food and Drug Administration, they can be sold with limited proof of effectiveness. If you decide to use diet pills, check ingredient lists thoroughly and research the manufacturing company as well as the safety of all ingredients before purchasing.
Types of Laxatives
Laxatives come in several different forms. Hyperosmotics, such as milk of magnesia, work by pulling water into the colon to make the stool softer and easier to pass. Bulk-forming laxatives, which usually come in powder form, work by absorbing water to increase stool bulk and stimulate intestinal contractions that move stool out of the colon. Stimulant laxatives are the harshest type. These types of laxatives stimulate intestinal contractions to move stool through the colon. Stool softeners add moisture to the stool to make bowel movements easier, but do not stimulate any intestinal contractions.
Warnings
Laxatives should not be used as a diet pill or weight loss method. If you use laxatives regularly, your bowel function decreases, a condition called lazy bowel syndrome. This decreases your body's ability to have a normal bowel movement and makes constipation worse. Overuse of laxatives can also cause dehydration and disrupt electrolyte balance, leading to heart arrhythmia and even heart attack. Laxative abuse for weight loss is a purging behavior associated with the eating disorder, bulimia nervosa.
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