Incidence of laxative abuse in community and bulimic populations: A descriptive review

Abstract

Estimates of the incidence of laxative abuse in bulimics and in the community‐at‐large vary widely for various population samples. This review identifies 73 studies in which laxative abuse could be assessed in bulimics, nonbulimics, and the community‐at‐large. Relative risk values for laxative abuse among population subsamples were estimated by moment methods statistical procedure based on mixed model analysis. Results indicated that the lifetime occurrence for laxative abuse behavior in the community‐at‐large was 4.18%. Bulimic behavior increased the risk for laxative abuse 3.57‐fold to 14.94%. Several methodologic and population parameter characteristics are examined for their select impact on laxative abuse. Review of medical nomenclature for classifying laxative substances, iatragenic effects of laxative abuse, and assessment recommendations are also included. © 1995 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Gender Conformity and Use of Laxatives and Muscle-Building Products in Adolescents and Young Adults

“…The overall gender differences and age trends detected in this study were consistent with previous US epidemiologic data on the prevalence of laxative use and muscle-building product use in adolescent and young adult females and males. 7,9,11,15 The results build on previous research on gender and sexual orientation disparities in laxative and musclebuilding product use by highlighting the unique, independent effect of gender conformity in patterning weight control and muscle-building behaviors in heterosexual and sexual minority adolescents and young adults.…”

“…Approximately 4% of the US general population reports having used laxatives for weight loss in their lifetime, 7 with adolescent and young adult women being particularly vulnerable, possibly because of the prevalent developmental increase in thinness concerns. 8 Epidemiologic data on muscle-building product use are sparse, with much of the surveillance focused on steroid use.…”

Clinical and economic profile of prucalopride in the treatment of chronic constipation in women

“…In generale le donne tendevano ad assumere lassativi per periodi più protratti, il 70% per almeno 3 anni e con frequenza superiore rispetto ai maschi, ma in entrambi i sessi oltre l'80% dei soggetti dichiarava di assumerli uno o più volte al mese [28]. Altri studi hanno stimato un uso, e un abuso, di lassativi rispettivamente nel 5% e al 4% della popolazione generale [30,31]. Risultati diversi sono stati ottenuti valutando l'impiego di lassativi tra i pazienti che si rivolgono a un centro di riferimento italiano Prucalopride nel trattamento della stipsi cronica idiopatica refrattaria delle donne: profilo clinico ed economico…”

Investigation for the Influence of Different Magnesium Sulfate Doses on the Content of Calcium and Chloride in Blood Serum of Rats of Both Genders

“…But of all patients with this kind of disorders only 34% call for medical help [6]. As the result the frequency of uncontrollable, self-treatment with depletive agents increase, which often leads to undesirable side effects [4]. As the result of some de-Проведено исследование о влиянии различных доз сульфата магния на содер-жание кальция и хлора в сыворотке крови крыс обоего пола.…”

“…При этом из всех пациентов, страдающих нарушениями стула, лишь 34% обращаются за медицинской помощью [6]. В результате возрастает частота бесконтрольного, само-стоятельного приема пациентами слабитель-ных средств, которые зачастую влекут за со-бой проявление нежелательных побочных реакций [4]. При этом в результате приема некоторых слабительных средств, в частно-сти сульфата магния, наблюдается высокая частота развития электролитных нарушений [1], что и предопределило цель настоящего исследования.…”