Does Smoking Cannabis lead to Weight-Loss?
We know you were wondering about it. Discussion at TOPS last week around prescription drugs with unwanted side effects and their effect on healthy weight drifted into the area of marijuana use.
“No,” someone insisted. “You can’t smoke weed and maintain a healthy weight. You get the munchies and then you overeat. And of course there’s reefer madness!” Like you, I have heard these rumours. So I decided to do some research, on-line of course.
We know that it can cause weight gain. “Leafy Canada” reminds us that patients receiving chemotherapy can benefit from medical cannabis, since besides other good effects, the “munchies” help them gain healthy weight. I consulted he site Men’s Health, “Smoking Weed for Weight Loss: Does it Work?” where I learned that smoking marijuana releases hormones that make us feel famished. But surprisingly, a study of 30,000 participants over a three year period showed it was those who smoked grass who gained the least weight.
While studies on weed and weight loss are preliminary, the research is certainly growing, one study showing that long term pot-smoking may suppress appetite. As well, CBD, the part of cannabis that doesn’t get you “high,” has been shown to lower Cortisol levels, making it easier for you to lose weight and keep it off. Different strains of marijuana may produce different effects. One rich in THCV is thought to inhibit appetite by determining how “rewarding” food is. THCV also seems to have an effect on blood sugar regulation. So can smoking pot actually cause weight loss?
The takeaway? The effect of marijuana on weight-loss is being actively studied, and new information is coming out all the time, but no showstopper results. Some strains may cause weight loss, and long-term cannabis use may cause temporary increase in weight, but not in the long run. But there’s nothing definitive to report yet, and there is no proof that smoking a joint is a prescription for healthy weight control. Serious drawbacks to using cannabis long-term include breathing problems, and links to psychosis and mania-like symptoms in people with bipolar disorder. Not the answer some of our readers who wanted a “quick fix” were hoping for? Hold off with the exotic recipes. There are many ways to maintain a healthy weight, and no guarantees that weed will do the job for us. But we do know that nutritious eating and judicious exercise are essential for our good health.
We’d love to see you at TOPS. Each one of us is aiming to improve our health and we all get great support from the group. We share what works for us and we encourage every member to meet their healthy weight goals. We meet every Wednesday morning at the Community Centre, from 9:00 to 10:00. We’re a low-cost, enjoyable, self-help program that happily welcomes everyone. (Your first visit is free.) If you want to Take Off Pounds Sensibly with us, please call...
Submitted by Amber Harvey
References
- Men's Health - Fitness, Nutrition, Health, Sex, Style & Weight Loss Tips for Men
- Healthline: Medical information and health advice you can trust.
- Can Cannabis Help You Lose Weight? - Strainprint Technologies Inc.
- Consume Cannabis To Lose Weight | HuffPost Canada Life
- Skinny Pot: Could Weight-Loss Weed Be Next? - Rolling Stone
- How can medical marijuana help people lose weight?