People have been trying all sorts of techniques to shed weight for decades now. Supplements, pills, fasting, and other creative (or plain stupid) methods have been used.
But the question is: How many people have tried cannabis?
Of course, cannabis is known for bringing on the munchies, so it may seem like a strange idea. But research could suggest otherwise.
Let’s take a closer look.
Cannabis and weight loss
One study suggests that ingesting weed is linked to a lower body mass index (BMI).
As per this paper, a total of 17 studies have found cannabis consumers have lower BMIs overall – and that’s despite them eating more calories.
The mean BMI for cannabis consumers across all the studies were 26 kg/m2, while 27.5 kg/m2 was the average for non-consumers.
Another study found 53.7% of non-cannabis consumers were obese, 36.7% of occasional consumers were obese, and only 28.7% of frequent consumers were obese.
And, other studies carried out on rodents in the UK, Poland, Italy, and Hungary have all led to the conclusions that there is “a correlation between cannabis use and reduction in the BMI”.
Why?
It’s also been found that endocannabinoids (naturally produced cannabinoids) are much higher in obese people than non-obese people. In fact, it’s well established that obesity is associated with overactivation of the endocannabinoid system.
Why could this be?
Well, one theory that looks likely is that the downregulation of CB1 receptors following cannabis use counteracts the obesity-causing effects of high dietary omega-6 consumption.
We look in to thus theory further in this article: Cannabis Users Have Lower BMI And Lower Rates Of Obesity, But Why?
A reduction in appetite
While THC is well-known to increase appetite, there are other cannabinoids such as THCV which has been shown to suppress appetite.
Not only does it suppress appetite, but it also promotes feelings of fullness, and stimulates metabolism.
CBD has also been found to do the same things: suppress appetite and promote feelings of fullness. This paper in 2022 found many patients who recieved CBD also experienced a decrease in their BMI proceeding their treatment.
Cannabis, sleep and weight loss
There are many other factors aside from eating that have an impact on your weight. For example, we burn a lot of calories when we sleep.
Sleep is important for a variety of reasons, rest and recovery being the main two.
But if you’re suffering from poor sleep, you’ll more than likely find that you’ve got an increased appetite – hence why midnight snacks are so popular.
This 2017 study found that cannabis strains with high-CBD could help improve REM sleep. So it may be a good idea to try some if you find yourself sleeping poorly and eating all night!
Summary
There is some evidence to suggest that cannabis use may be associated with weight loss.
The research on this topic is limited, so more studies are needed to fully understand the relationship between cannabis and weight loss.
Additionally, the effects of cannabis on weight may vary depending on the individual and the type of cannabis product used. Other factors such as diet and exercise should also be considered when trying to lose weight.
However, it would appear that when used alongside a healthy diet and active lifestyle, cannabis and cannabinoids may be a useful tool in attaining a healthy body composition.
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