The quest to lose weight has been a long-running obsession for humans. We’ve found many creative and questionable methods to lose weight.
Experts agree that weight loss is possible by increasing your physical activity and eating a healthy diet. However, some people seek out supplements to help them. About 15% of Americans have used them at one time or another.
How many people have actually tried cannabis?
It is well-known that cannabis can cause the munchies so it seems paradoxical that marijuana could help you lose weight. Research shows that cannabis users are significantly more likely to be obese than non-users. (Also, legalization of adult-use cannabis may be linked to lower rates of obesity.)
Let’s look at how cannabis can help you lose weight and the cannabinoids responsible for influencing your appetite.
Is there any evidence to suggest that cannabis can help with weight loss?
It is not uncommon for accidental discoveries to show that cannabis use can lead to weight loss. Researchers often discover that marijuana use can lead to weight loss by studying the effects on glucose, heart disease, epilepsy, and chronic illnesses.
Cannabis users are healthier than those who eat less, but have a lower BMI.
One review has found that 17 studies show that cannabis users have lower body mass indexes than non-users. The BMI, which is a measure for body fat that is calculated based on height and mass, can be used to determine the health of adult male and female users. The mean BMI for cannabis users was 26 kg/m2 in all studies. It was 27.5 kg/m2 for non-users.
Although 1.5kg or 3.3 lbs may seem like a lot, this clinically significant difference indicates that cannabis users are healthier and closer to a healthy BMI (18.5-25 kg/m2) than people who do not smoke marijuana. A study found that cannabis use was negatively correlated with BMI. In other words, marijuana users who smoke more often have a lower BMI.
Other research showed that 53.7% non-cannabis users were overweight, while 36.7% of occasional users were considered obese. Only 28.7% were frequent users.
Here’s the bottom line: Research also suggests that cannabis users not only have a lower body mass, but also consume more calories per day than non-users. This could be due to the munchies. According to the above review, cannabis users consume 834 calories more per day than non-users. This extra food intake does not appear to increase BMI or cause users to gain weight.
What does cannabis do to your weight and calorie intake?
A team of Indiana researchers came up with a theory to explain this paradox. They speculate that cannabis might increase metabolism and energy storage.
Unbalanced diets can cause the CB1 receptors of the endocannabinoid systems to stop functioning properly. This is especially true if there are too many omega-6 fatty acids in comparison to omega-3. The Endocannabinoid System plays an important role in controlling appetite, metabolism, and energy storage. The majority of Western diets are high in omega-6, but low in omega-3. This can lead to over stimulation of CB1 receptors and increase inflammation, which can cause weight gain.
The research team found that THC can cause CB1 receptors to become dysfunctional, which could help reduce inflammation and weight gain.
Others have suggested that cannabis could also regulate metabolism, increasing body weight in low and average-weight people but not in overweight or average individuals.
Final Thoughts
Research suggests that cannabis users may have lower body mass indexes, and a healthier weight than non-users. This paradox could be explained by the possibility that cannabis can increase metabolism and energy storage and reduce inflammation. More research is necessary to understand the connection between cannabis and weight loss. It is important to remember that cannabis should not be used as an aid for weight loss. Instead, a healthy diet and regular exercise can help you achieve your weight loss goals.
For those in Napa, CA looking to explore the potential benefits of cannabis, visiting a reputable marijuana dispensary in Napa can provide access to a wide range of products and knowledgeable staff to help guide your decision making.