People are beginning to ask if cannabis, does it make you lose weight? The short answer to this question is: "it depends". If you are someone who has recently lost a great deal of weight (up to 200 pounds or more) without exercising, or following a healthy diet and exercise routine, you may have found yourself asking "Does cannabis make you lose weight?". The short answer to that is "it depends". If you are currently struggling with bulging pouches or enlarged heart or having blood pressure that is out of control, or suffering from any combination of these symptoms, or a host of other ailments, then maybe you are at risk for a drug-related weight loss. But on the flip side, if you have an active lifestyle, eat right and are taking steps to control your diabetes and cholesterol levels, and also maintain an active lifestyle, perhaps you should consider giving cannabis a shot.
Researchers in the last decade or so have become very interested in the endocannabinoid system, the chemical system within the brain that produces both the psychoactive part of cannabis, and its mood enhancing, muscle soothing, and appetite suppressing properties. The discovery of this system within our bodies is the basis for the recent surge of medical marijuana use for those who wish to alleviate chronic pain or depression, or regulate anxiety and mood. There is now evidence that regular use of cannabis reduces appetite and stimulates weight loss in certain individuals. However, more research will need to be conducted in order to establish whether or not this is a true benefit of marijuana use, or if the weight loss comes from another cause unrelated to cannabis use. For the moment, the focus is firmly put on the fact that it does seem to produce some weight loss in certain people who are willing to try it.
Some people believe that using cannabis can actually help them lose weight. While there may be some truth to this hypothesis, there is no definitive answer as to whether or not this will happen when an individual begins to smoke weed regularly. However, smoking cannabis does seem to relieve a smoker's body of some of the toxins and chemicals normally released through smoking tobacco. While this may sound like a good thing, it also means that a person is likely to suffer from some form of withdrawal symptoms once they stop using cannabis. Some of these symptoms include:
A study published last year in the peer-reviewed Journal of the American Medical Associations reported that users of cannabis had an increased level of inflammatory diseases within their liver. It was found that long-term cannabis users were more likely to suffer from cirrhosis, and several other liver problems. Additionally, a study published in the Nicotine Taxation and Health study published in the European Journal of Public Health reported that cannabis consumers were twice as likely to develop fatty liver disease as non-pot users. This report followed up on a previous study published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine that indicated that long-term cannabis use may lead to higher levels of cholesterol.
The first of the studies above concerns the question of whether or not cannabis users suffer from an increased risk of developing a fatty liver. The answer is a yes, and the reason why is linked to long-term cannabis use. A previous study published in the British Journal of Cancer found that long-term cannabis consumers were three times as likely to have fatty livers than non-weed consumers. A second study published in the BMJ found that cannabis users were twice as likely to have smaller waistlines.
So what does all this add up to? The answer is that if you smoke weed, you are more likely to suffer from weight loss problems. Now, this may not be the end of the story, however. Another recent study published in Psychological Bulletin showed that cannabis use was linked to an increased risk of anxiety and depression. This is because chronic marijuana users tend to have lower levels of dopamine. It is believed that lower dopamine levels mean that the mind feels constantly on alert, causing the user to feel anxious and depressed even without having eaten.
Can weed lead to weight loss? This is something that we cannot answer in a definitive way. But do know that many people who have smoked weed for years show no signs of becoming overweight. But then again, there are many people who show no outward signs of physical fitness and may still maintain a massive weight. If you want to lose weight, stop smoking weed. You'll thank me later.
Weed is a strange drug. We know it does have some medical benefits; it can help people with diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's, among others. But weed also has a host of nasty side effects. Smoking weed is a sneaky thing to do; you don't realize how much you are hurting your body until you have done it for yourself.
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