How do you know you need a laxative?

The reason for taking a laxative is to loosen stool because the body absorbed too much water in the digestion process and your body needs a certain amount of water for you to defecate, too much water and. . . Well, I'm sure you get where I'm going with that. If you are thinking about taking it to lose weight it is not going to work, the only weight you will lose is water weight and NO it will NOT make you look thinner you will just be miserable all the time and if your wondering how I know this a friend of mine had a similar problem. (Reyvin, if it makes you feel better about it).