DR. NEIL SOLOMON : Help in Reducing

Question: I don’t believe in fad diets to lose weights, but why wouldn’t the use of diuretics and laxatives help a person reduce? I’m not recommending that they be used indefinitely, but what harm could they do if they’re used for a short period of time until the amount of weight to be lost has been achieved?

Answer: Diuretics and laxatives result in a loss of water, not fat, and it is the fat that dieters want to lose. Use of diuretics can cause dehydration and result in an imbalance of electrolytes. Laxatives used in excess can impair bowel function and interfere with the absorption of vitamins and minerals.