It’s a contradiction, right? One of its most well-known effects is to provide “the munchies,” which seems to suggest that using marijuana and losing weight would be undesirable. This appetite boost is one of the reasons why it was medically authorized in the first place. People undergoing chemotherapy frequently lose their desire due to its usage. Looking to try something new? Check out this.
We all know that overeating is one of the most common causes of weight gain. So, why would anybody advocate marijuana as a weight loss medication? Some new research suggests that the situation is more nuanced than it appears.
What’s in Marijuana?
Cannabis, to be more technical, includes a variety of chemical compounds known as cannabinoids. THC is well-known because it causes intoxication. You may also be aware of CBD because it’s the one that’s getting the most study for medical applications. CBD does not appear to cause weight gain. It’s also not an appetite stimulant.
Because CBD oil has no THC, it should not cause weight gain. In fact, CBD can counteract the appetite-stimulating effects of THC to help you feel fuller longer. However, CBD alone doesn’t seem to promote weight loss.
While CBD and THC are the most researched cannabinoids, there are others. THCV, in particular, may actually aid in weight reduction. While THC increases hunger, THCV inhibits it. It also appears to have an impact on blood sugar management. Finding a cannabis strain with a greater amount of THCV might be the key to keeping your appetite in check.
Marijuana is a plant, not a pharmaceutical drug. This implies that various strains of the plant have varying ratios of cannabinoids. This is why dispensaries providelab test results for their strains so you can see which cannabinoids are present in them. Before you put dry herb vaporizer with flower in it, double-check these figures to ensure you receive the desired effect.
There is a proposed link between cannabis and lower body weight. However, the mechanism behind this relationship has yet to be discovered.
Does Cannabis Help You Lose Weight?
According to certain studies, cannabis users have a lower chance of becoming obese than nonusers. However, there is no clear cause for this link. Obesity rates were found to be greater in those who did not use cannabis in a 2011 review (two surveys with 50,736 respondents).
16.1% of cannabis users were obese, whereas 22% of non-users had obesity. A previous study reached the similar conclusion. According to the results of the Trusted Source study, young adult cannabis users are less likely to be overweight or obese than non-users.
According to recent studies, there is a link between cannabis use and a reduced body mass index (BMI) and obesity. One meta-analysis from 2018Trusted Source found that cannabis consumers had a lower body mass index (BMI) and less obesity than nonusers. Cannabis use was also shown to boost calorie intake in the study.
Cannabis, on the other hand, is not a good treatment for obesity. It’s worth noting that cannabis use and weight loss are linked to lower body weight in studies. The reason for this link hasn’t been determined yet.
Cannabis may have a link to lower BMI and rates of obesity because it:
- may lower alcohol consumption
- increases activity levels in some people
- might affect metabolism
- may help with sleep issues
How Marijuana May Help You Lose Weight
Even if all of the aforementioned variables are accounted for, some researchers think that marijuana still may have a direct physiological influence on weight. Clark is one of them. In 2018, he and his colleagues published a paper in which they propose a plausible mechanism for the lower BMI and obesity rates among cannabis users based on data from 17 large-scale studies.
THC activates the CB1 receptor, which stimulates hunger in a short term—but this effect doesn’t endure. According to him, the receptor becomes less active over time, suggesting that people will consume fewer calories on average. Meanwhile, research suggests that THC increases metabolism over time. As a result of this logic, even if you got caught with your munchies after smoking a joint, your increased metabolic rate would counteract the munchies’ appetite-boosting effects by burning through those calories faster than if you weren’t a marijuana user.
Good sleep
There are a number of additional elements to consider when it comes to weight reduction. You must also keep an eye on your expenditure. It may come as a surprise to you that when we sleep, we burn a lot of calories. As a result, getting good sleep is critical for losing weight. Poor sleeping habits can also lead to increased hunger, as any insomniac or midnight snack connoisseur will tell you.
If you have trouble sleeping, look for Cannabidiol-rich strains. CBD is responsible for the relaxing effects of marijuana use. According to a 2017 study, it can also aid in the improvement of REM sleep and tiredness.
CBD and Exercise
CBD has additional benefits aside from soothing you down. CBD also increases your attention on whatever activity you’re engaged in. CBD may help you stay focused while doing repetitive exercise, such as walking or cycling. It’s probably not a good idea to use it for resistance exercises like weightlifting.
We are in a golden era of cannabis research, but more study is needed to determine which combinations of cannabinoids will be most effective for weight reduction. However, if you live in a state where marijuana is legal, talk with your doctor and dispensary about experimenting with high THCV or heavy CBD strains to lose weight. Avoid the ones with too much THC because they stimulate hunger; instead, try using CBD drops to counteract the appetite boost from THC.