Does Weed Make You Lose Weight? Fact or Fiction?

Marijuana is famous for triggering the well-known ‘munchies,’ which would seem to make it incompatible with weight loss. Research indicates, however, that cannabis users are actually less likely to be obese. How is this possible? Let’s explore how marijuana might contribute to weight loss and learn about the key cannabinoids that affect one’s appetite.

There are varying opinions on the relationship between cannabis and weight loss. If you accept the stigma attached to regular consumers, you would tend to think that they’re all overweight, unambitious and, frankly, lazy. This is a decidedly inaccurate stereotype.

It may seem paradoxical, but marijuana can actually help you lose weight. In fact, studies show that cannabis users, on average, have a lower BMI than non-users. What’s more, despite consuming more calories than non-users, marijuana users tend to have better weight-to-height ratios.

Many users also believe that cannabis can help them lose weight. Wouldn’t it be ideal to be able to eat whatever we wanted, knowing that marijuana would magically burn off excess calories? This is also a myth, as cannabis, by itself, does not burn calories.

However, new studies have suggested that the potential wellness benefits marijuana provides may make it easier to maintain a healthy body weight. When we think of all the reasons people use cannabis, it makes sense that some of these advantages could help us keep us fit.

Cannabis Myths and Obesity Rates

First there was the myth that cannabis users tend to be overweight, followed by the belief that all cannabis varieties increase the user’s appetite. None of these assumptions are entirely correct.

While it is true that many strains can stimulate appetite, and that food can taste especially good when you’re high, this does not mean that all cannabis users are overweight.

In fact, the reality is just the opposite: only a few varieties of cannabis increase appetite, and most people do not consume cannabis often enough for it to significantly impact their daily caloric intake.

Several recent studies suggest that the effects of cannabinoids, consumed regularly, may help some people maintain a healthy body weight. Cannabis may not be a silver bullet for weight loss, but it could have benefits that help your body move better, burn calories more efficiently, and reduce stress, a factor known to contribute to excessive food intake.

Marijuana and Weight loss: What the Theory Says

Clearly, there is more than one way that cannabis can help you lose weight, although these benefits can be indirect.

For example, scientific evidence has shown that smoking cannabis can boost your metabolism, helping you burn more calories during periods of rest and activity. Of course, more effective calorie burning can result in lower body weight.

Beyond metabolism, the potential pain-relieving and stress-reducing properties of cannabis can also help you lose weight. Logically, if you feel less pain, you’ll be more likely to exercise and maintain a healthy weight through regular activity.

Scientists know that stress is strongly correlated with weight gain through increased cortisol levels and other brain chemistry issues. While there are other factors at play, research has shown that stress can make people more susceptible to obesity.

People who are less stressed are also more likely to enjoy restful sleep. In turn, people who get enough sleep are less likely to be obese. CBD, in particular, has been identified as useful in both aspects.

How Other Cannabinoids Affect Weight

In addition to CBD, the cannabinoid tetrahydrocannabivarin (THCV) may also have a beneficial effect on weight loss. According to scientists, stimulating CB1 receptors with THC produces a positive regulation of appetite. But THCV acts by blocking CB1 receptors in the brain instead of activating them, which means that it does not have the psychoactive effects that THC does. Therefore, THCV suppresses appetite. This effect has been confirmed by multiple peer-reviewed studies.

This disclosure has made THCV of particular interest for the treatment of obesity. However, high doses of THCV are psychoactive, and may have synergy with THC, so the moderate use of THCV is recommended.

In addition, both THCV and CBD are of interest for the treatment of Type-I and Type-II diabetes. This is because CBD and THCV may help regulate glucose levels and prevent insulin resistance. If sugars are processed properly, dangerous levels of glucose are not reached.

Another reason CBD might facilitate weight loss is thanks to its effects on carbohydrate metabolism, as it speeds up the processing of sugars. Since sugar plays an active role in obesity, CBD could help marijuana users maintain a healthy weight.

Conclusion

The belief that consuming marijuana slims you down remains a myth, for most, although there is more than a grain of truth to it in specific cases. As with many aspects of cannabis use, individual experience varies and what works for some won’t necessarily work for others. So, if you’re considering marijuana use in hopes of losing weight, it’s crucial to do so with caution and take into account all the factors involved.

When it comes to losing weight, cannabis alone is unlikely to have a major effect. However, combined with a healthy diet, exercise and adequate sleep, cannabis may well be an integral part of a healthy lifestyle.