Does cannabis speed up or slow down your metabolism?

You’ve probably heard all the jokes about stoners and cravings. After all, 99% of all flavor combinations from Ben & Jerry’s ice cream, weird fast food menu items, and weird snack chip flavors are solely the fault of cannabis smokers.

Junk food bingeing caused by marijuana is inconsistent with a healthy diet. This is because science has repeatedly shown that irregular eating habits (like stopping for a few tacos after dinner on a late-night drive-through) can be unhealthy and lead to obesity. Ultimately, this could lead to a variety of health problems such as diabetes, heart disease, and some types of cancer (such as colon cancer).

Humor and fear aside, there’s some fascinating scientific research into how marijuana use affects hunger and is related to weight gain or loss. Researchers are beginning to understand how marijuana affects a healthy lifestyle in terms of metabolism, weight loss, and lifestyle motivation.

Does marijuana affect metabolism?

A 2011 review of two nationwide studies conducted between 2001 and 2003 sparked most of the debate about the effects of marijuana use on metabolism. The analysis found that those who have never used cannabis are more likely to be obese than frequent cannabis users (at least three times or more per week).

Similar findings were made by a 2010 study published in the American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse, which examined the link between marijuana use and adolescent obesity. Anecdotal research suggests that cannabis may help reduce obesity rates and improve BMI by:

• Reduction in alcohol consumption

• increase in physical activity.

• Help with sleep problems

• Simulate cortisol/stress response

• Relief of pain that can interfere with exercise

Additionally, these findings were validated by a 2018 review published in the journal Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research examining the association between cannabis use and body mass index (BMI). It has been found that cannabis enthusiasts, despite consuming more calories, typically have lower BMIs and obesity rates, suggesting that cannabis affects metabolism.

Tom Clark, the chair of the biological sciences department at Indiana University South Bend, claims that people think cannabis users are naturally overweight because it stimulates the appetite. Clark and his colleagues looked at 17 studies involving nearly 156,000 people and discovered that marijuana users were leaner than non-users. In addition, their body mass index (BMI) is typically 7 percent lower; for a 6-foot man, that’s a 15-pound difference. Most intriguingly, marijuana users have a 30 to 35 percent reduced risk of becoming obese.

Clark added that although THC can cause an initial craving for appetite, over time the metabolism more than makes up for it. He goes on to suggest that the consequences of reducing obesity would be even greater if current strains had lost the munching effects but retained elevated metabolic rates. And you don’t have to be a heavy smoker to lose weight. According to research, a single dose of marijuana can boost your metabolism and make you appear leaner for about four weeks.

While the exact dose of cannabis required is unknown, THC has a stronger metabolic impact than the more common legal, non-psychoactive cannabidiol. It is widely believed that our modern American diet is overly rich in omega-6 fatty acids, found in foods like vegetable oil and butter. Excess omega-6 can cause inflammation in the body. It also overstimulates the CB1R receptor, which increases appetite, makes food taste better, lowers metabolic rate, and promotes fat accumulation. Clark claims that THC can “talk” to the CB1R receptor, providing balance. In other words, it can help reduce hunger and weight gain.

The gut microbiome, which also influences weight, can be improved by THC. Increased levels of Firmicutes and decreased levels of Bacteroidetes are associated with obesity. In a Canadian animal study, THC was administered to obese mice on a high-calorie diet. Their intestinal flora returned to normal and they no longer gained weight.

Still, bad eating habits cannot be fixed by marijuana. Myron Szewczuk, a biomedical researcher from Queen’s University in Ontario, Canada, claims that a diet high in sugar, fat and artificial sweeteners is unsustainable when trying to lose weight. Not everyone agrees with the reported effects of cannabis on metabolism. According to Diana Martinez, professor of psychiatry at Columbia University Medical Center in New York, the evidence suggesting cannabis causes weight loss is not reliable. While there are animal studies, participants in human studies self-report their results, making it impossible to tell how much they are consuming.

A study in which some participants receive THC while others receive a placebo is needed to demonstrate the idea. Martinez isn’t always against marijuana and its legalization. According to her, it can potentially treat debilitating conditions that require more treatment alternatives, such as chronic pain, multiple sclerosis and Crohn’s disease. However, before large-scale human studies can be conducted, restrictions on THC in science in the United States must be relaxed.

What about cannabis and weight gain?

So how about the “Munchies”? Obesity and weight gain cannot simply be caused by food cravings. A study published in the International Journal of Epidemiology found that regular marijuana users were less likely to be overweight or obese than non-users.

The appetite-stimulating effects of cannabis are also not as straightforward as you might expect, according to Brian St. Pierre, RD, a men’s health nutritionist. THC, the euphoric ingredient in marijuana that causes the “high,” can make people hungry. On the other hand, CBD seems to balance the stimulating effects of THC on hunger.

According to a study, the systems in the brain that cause hunger can be affected by marijuana, particularly the hormone-releasing receptors. Nonetheless, despite research acknowledging the stereotype of the Cheetos-eating stoner, other studies have shown that marijuana use does not lead to weight gain.

Conclusion

There is no empirical, human-based evidence that marijuana has a profound effect on metabolism that would help cannabis smokers achieve their physical fitness goals. Following a diet strategy that works for you is the best way to lose weight.

CANNABIS AND METABOLISM, READ MORE..

CANNABIS LOWERS BMI AND MAKES YOU HEALTHIER, TELL YOU WHAT?