Diuretics are medications used to treat high blood pressure, congestive heart failure, and other conditions that cause your body to retain salt (unhealthy fluid). Most people assume that taking diuretics makes them dehydrated, which can cause them to lose weight. However, this isn’t necessarily true. In fact, some studies suggest that diuretics can help promote weight loss.
Diuretics Help With Weight Loss
Many medical professionals believe that diuretics can help with weight loss, and not just because they make you lose water. Several studies suggest that they can also help with appetite suppression, which in turn can promote weight loss.
Take a look at the studies below:
Diuretics and Appetite Suppression
In a 12-week study of 50 overweight and obese adults aged 18 to 65 years, diuretics as a treatment for hypertension led to a significant reduction in waist circumference and led to an average weight loss of 4.7 kg (10.3 lbs). Additionally, the medication led to an improved lipid profile and insulin sensitivity in most of the participants. Most importantly, diuretics helped reduce participant’s appetite, which led to a meaningful weight loss in most cases.
Diuretics and Sodium Intake
Another study, also from 12 weeks, examined the effects of diuretics in overweight and obese adults. The participants had to be over 18 years of age and had to have a body mass index (BMI) between 25 and 40. In this study, the participants consumed either a placebo or furosemide (Lasix) for 12 weeks. The results showed that diuretics significantly reduced salt intake and fluid retention, which in turn helped promote weight loss. Additionally, the participants reported fewer cravings for food, which contributed to the weight loss as well.
While diuretics help with weight loss, it’s important to keep in mind that they also have a lot of other health benefits. For example, they can be used to treat heart failure and high blood pressure. In addition, they can reduce cholesterol and triglycerides, which are fats that can clog arteries and lead to heart disease. Moreover, they can reduce the fluid in your lungs, making it easier for you to breathe.
Should You Try Diuretics For Weight Loss?
As previously discussed, diuretics can help with weight loss, and maybe even help with appetite suppression. This makes them an attractive option for people who are trying to lose weight. However, before you start taking diuretics as a weight loss medication, it’s important to consider a few things.
The Effects Of Diuretics On Lipids
Blood lipids (cholesterol and triglycerides) play an important role in the development of heart disease. In people with normal cholesterol levels, taking diuretics for weight loss can result in significant reductions in triglycerides. In fact, some studies have shown that it can reduce triglycerides by up to 49%! This is significant because, as we mentioned above, triglycerides can clog arteries and lead to heart disease. Additionally, diuretics can increase HDL cholesterol (good cholesterol), which is helpful because lower HDL cholesterol has been associated with a higher risk of heart disease. Furthermore, diuretics often reduce LDL cholesterol (bad cholesterol) which is also beneficial and also helps reduce the risk of heart disease.
The Effects Of Diuretics On Bone Health
Your bones are important because they protect your organs. However, they aren’t as important as your organs are for keeping your bones healthy. In general, people who take diuretics for weight loss often notice that their bones become more visible. This is probably because losing weight forces your body to use muscle which in turn helps boost your overall fitness. Additionally, the lower amount of fluids in your body can also help reduce inflammation, which in turn can improve bone health. In fact, some studies suggest that diuretics can reduce inflammation, which would help explain why it can improve bone health in some cases.
If you’re interested in trying out diuretics for weight loss, be sure to consult with your doctor to ensure that it’s safe for you to do so. Additionally, it may be a good idea to try a different medication first, before you add another. Some people experience unpleasant side effects when taking multiple medications, which can be difficult to handle. If you’re used to taking diuretics, you may not want to try anything new because you’ll likely encounter unpleasant side effects. That being said, not all diuretics are created equal, and some have been known to be more effective than others when it comes to weight loss. Moreover, some people have reported enjoying the side effects of diuretics, while others have found them to be unreasonably harsh. Ultimately, it’s all about finding what works best for you and your body, and diuretics for weight loss are no exception.