Why “Budget Ozempic” laxatives are dangerous for weight loss

Social media has become fixated on Ozempic, a medicine for type 2 diabetes. Yet it is not Ozempic’s blood-sugar management that has made it so prominent online. Rather, the drug is attracting attention because clinical trials have found that diabetic patients using it may lose weight.

As a result, more people are attempting to obtain Ozempic in the hope of losing weight, despite Ozempic not being recommended for weight loss. Its rapidly growing online popularity has contributed to shortages and counterfeit versions of the medicine, while also fuelling a wave of damaging diet trends.

Among the trends spreading across social media is one that some have labelled "Budget Ozempic". Budget Ozempic has no connection to Ozempic and does not contain semaglutide, the active drug ingredient in Ozempic. In most instances, the term "budget Ozempic" used online is actually referring to laxatives and stool softeners.

There are numerous reasons not to use "budget Ozempic" in an attempt to lose weight, not least because any impact on weight is slight and short-lived. Laxatives and stool softeners are neither intended for long-term use nor approved as weight-loss treatments. Using them incorrectly can be harmful for a range of reasons.

Dehydration

Certain laxatives draw water from other parts of the body into the intestines, softening stools and making them easier to pass. However, overusing laxatives and stool softeners can cause water loss and dehydration. In the short term, this can leave you more tired or thirsty than normal, as well as dizzy or light-headed.

Losing water can also activate the body’s renin-angiotensin response. This response primarily helps to regulate fluid levels and blood pressure. When excessive water is lost over a brief period, the body can eventually retain fluid. This temporary fluid retention occurs because the body is overcompensating for dehydration. Persistent dehydration may contribute to hypertension and other cardiovascular issues.

Although laxatives cause water loss, they do not cause fat loss. Consequently, any weight lost through laxative use is temporary, and the lost water will return.

Electrolyte imbalance

Irresponsible laxative use can also result in electrolyte loss.

Electrolytes, including sodium, potassium and chloride, are vital to normal bodily function. They regulate fluid levels and support the muscles and nervous system. However, when the body loses water or becomes dehydrated, its electrolyte balance is disrupted.

Over the short term, an electrolyte imbalance may lead to muscle cramps and spasms, nausea, tiredness, headaches and even numbness in the limbs. A chronic, long-term imbalance may be more dangerous, raising the risk of heart problems.

Poor nutrient intake

The body needs a wide range of nutrients to work properly, including vitamins, minerals, carbohydrates and protein. We obtain these nutrients from the food we eat, with most being absorbed in the small intestine.

Laxative use and purging, as can occur in cases of bulimia nervosa, may result in poor nutrient intake. One study found that laxative use led to 12% less absorption of essential nutrients.

Gastrointestinal issues

Laxatives affect the gastrointestinal system. Long-term use can cause diarrhoea.

This happens because laxatives move waste rapidly through the intestine and release water into the bowel. In turn, this may also disrupt the levels of minerals and salts in the body.

Health considerations

While laxatives and stool softeners can temporarily reduce weight, this is solely the result of losing water weight. The damaging consequences of laxative misuse greatly outweigh any short-lived weight loss that may occur. Misusing laxatives may also raise the risk of eating disorders, including bulimia nervosa.

Anyone seeking to lose weight should aim to follow a structured weight-loss programme combining exercise with a healthy, balanced diet. Laxatives should be used for constipation only when other approaches have failed, and after speaking to a GP.

Swrajit Sarkar, Senior Lecturer in Nutrition, City, University of London

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.