A new TikTok trend encourages people to take laxatives to lose weight. In the United States, demand is increasing and doctors are worried.
- Videos posted on TikTok promote the use of laxatives for weight loss.
- In pharmacies, the demand for laxative products is increasing to the point of creating supply problems.
- Doctors are concerned about the consequences of this trend.
It is becoming difficult to find laxatives in the United States. The person responsible for this shortage is the social network TikTok: there we find videos recommending the use of these drugs to lose weight or relieve bloating. They are notably referenced under the hashtag #GutTok, which already has more than a billion views. According to Wall Street Journalsome pharmacies are experiencing shortages, but the Food and Drug Administration, the body that regulates drugs in the country, has not noted a national shortage at this time.
TikTok: laxative makers see rising demand
According to the American media NBC News, several pharmaceutical laboratories have noted an increase in demand. “Over the past few months, we have seen unprecedented demand for Dulcolax productsexplained a Sanofi spokesperson. As a result, some retailers may temporarily not have certain Dulcolax products on their shelves..” In his article, the Wall Street Journal reveals that demand for polyethylene glycol 3350, the generic name for MiraLax, has led to shortages at some U.S. pharmacies.
This increase follows videos published mainly on TikTok: they extol the merits of these laxatives for weight loss, the “detox” or to reduce bloating. “It falls into the hands of people, especially young people, who say, ‘Oh, that’s an option. This is something I could potentially use“, explains Kendrin Sonneville, associate professor of nutritional sciences at the School of Public Health at the University of Michigan, in the article by NBC news.
Laxatives: a TikTok trend that worries health professionals
Laxative medications are recommended when a person suffers from constipation and lifestyle changes do not improve anything (playing sports, eating more fiber, etc.). These products will use the water present in the body to soften the stools and thus facilitate their evacuation.If you plan to use laxatives for weight loss, the only thing you are doing is passing out water and stools, which are not part of your body mass“, warns Dr. William Chey, head of the gastroenterology division at the University of Michigan, in the columns of NBC news. This means that any weight lost will be regained as soon as the person is properly hydrated again.
Additionally, these medications can cause side effects such as cramps, bloating or gas. Too much use can have more serious consequences: dehydration, nausea, vomiting, low potassium levels in the blood, which can increase the risk of heart attack, pancreatitis or even kidney stones.
