Contrary to what one might assume, there is a lower prevalence of obesity among cannabis users. The munchies are not making marijuana users fat! These findings are based on a study on weight-gain research and the link between cannabis use and obesity conducted by Michigan State University. The study has been published in the International Journal of Epidemiology.
Omayma Alshaarawy, lead author and an assistant professor of family medicine, said:
“Over a three-year period, all participants showed a weight increase, but interestingly, those who used marijuana had less of an increase compared to those that never used. Our study builds on mounting evidence that this opposite effect occurs.”
This new surprising evidence also suggests that new and persistent users are less likely to be overweight or obese overall. “We found that users, even those who just started, were more likely to be at a normal, healthier weight and stay at that weight,” Alshaarawy explained. “Only 15% of persistent users were considered obese compared to 20% of non-users.”
The Study
They used data from the National Epidemiologic Survey of Alcohol and Related Conditions, which involved 33,000 participants ages 18 and older. In particular, they compared all the participants’ Body Mass Index (BMI).
The Results
The actual weight difference between users and non-users was modest, around 2 pounds for a 5-foot-7-inch participant weighing about 200 pounds at the start of the study.
Alshaarawy said:
“An average 2-pound difference doesn’t seem like much, but we found it in more than 30,000 people with all different kinds of behaviors and still got this result.”
The researchers still aren’t quite sure what it is about marijuana that seems to affect weight. However, Alshaarawy indicated a few possible factors. “It could be something that’s more behavioral, like someone becoming more conscious of their food intake as they worry about the munchies after cannabis use and gaining weight,” she said. “Or it could be the cannabis use itself, which can modify how certain cells, or receptors, respond in the body and can ultimately affect weight gain. More research needs to be done.”
Not A Diet Aid
Although these results seem to point to cannabis being a strategy for weight loss, Alshaarawy cautions that is not the case. “There’s too many health concerns around cannabis that far outweigh the potential positive, yet modest, effects it has on weight gain,” she said. “People shouldn’t consider it as a way to maintain or even lose weight.” The Veriheal team can connect you to licensed physicians who are able to advise you about medical marijuana in an entirely legal way.
Other Studies And Research
Previous studies had similar results. For example, a 2013 study published in The American Journal of Medicine of almost 5000 people found that marijuana users had smaller waists by 1.5 inches (3.8cm) on average compared to non-marijuana users.
An earlier study published in 2011 by the American Journal of Epidemiology found that marijuana users were less likely to be obese than non-marijuana users.
A study published in 2013 by The American Journal of Medicine found that marijuana users had a 17% lower chance of insulin resistance, which can indirectly help to reduce weight gain and prevent or improve type 2 diabetes.
A 2016 study published in Diabetes Care also found that THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol), the cannabinoid in marijuana that results in high, improved insulin production, lowered fasting blood glucose, and raised levels of adiponectin, a protein that regulates blood sugar. The users of this study had type 2 diabetes and were not taking insulin. Research from 2015 also found that another cannabinoid, CBD (Cannabidiol), has anti-inflammatory properties, which could help to prevent or improve diabetes.
