A new study published in the journal Obesity has revealed that cannabis use can help individuals with obesity lose weight and reduce the likelihood of becoming obese in the future, as compared to their non-using counterparts. Findings reveal that adults who reported consuming cannabis in the previous 12 months were more than twice as likely to have lost 10 percent or more of their body weight over the same time period, compared to those who had not used cannabis during this period.

Effect of Cannabis on the Physical Health of a Person 

The effect of cannabis on a person’s physical health is not fully known. When a person smokes it, they have a higher likelihood of developing bronchitis, more phlegm in their lungs, and irritation in the lungs which can lead to more serious conditions like cancer. 

The amount of phlegm is higher when a person smokes it because the smoke enters into your lungs and stays there for up to 6 hours, so when you cough, you cough out more phlegm. It also has an effect on your throat, stomach, and immune system.

Cannabis smokers are three times as likely to suffer from respiratory illnesses than people who do not smoke marijuana. Furthermore, smoking weed increases the chance that someone will develop the chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) by 4-fold due to many factors including tar exposure and long-term use of an inhaled substance.

What are the Risks Associated with Obesity

The National Institute of Health reports that in the United States, more than one-third of adults and 17% of children are obese. Obesity is a major risk factor for a host of diseases and health problems but often struggle to lose weight. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that the rate of obesity-related deaths tripled between 1980 to 2014. 

It’s not just an American problem either; around the world, an estimated 2 billion people are overweight or obese. Yet, despite its prevalence, many people have trouble shedding pounds by dieting or following other weight loss regimes. It turns out though, marijuana may be able to help with this problem as well.

How Cannabis affects your Appetite

Cannabis is a known appetite stimulant, so it’s no surprise that marijuana could be used to combat the rising rate of obesity. When cannabis is introduced to the body, it interacts with cannabinoid receptors in the brain to produce a sense of relaxation and euphoria.

This sensation can suppress hunger signals and cause an increased feeling of fullness, both factors leading to weight loss. Marijuana also has other health benefits like treating chronic pain or anxiety as well as relieving nausea from chemotherapy treatments which could make weight gain easier to manage.

Not only does marijuana have positive effects on your mood and health but it can help you maintain a healthy weight as well.

Cannabis regular users have lower BMI(Body Mass Index)

Based on survey data from three separate studies. It was found that both new and persistent cannabis users had a lower BMI than those who did not use cannabis. It is hypothesized, the effect may be due to healthier eating habits among those who have moved away from more fatty, fried foods to a healthier diet.

It has also been suggested that compounds in cannabis may suppress appetite which could lead to a reduced body mass index.  Lower BMI was found among both new and persistent users of cannabis.

The Bottom Line

The study, which was published in the American Journal of Epidemiology, found that people who used marijuana were less likely to be obese than those who didn’t use it. This is an interesting discovery because the general belief has been that smoking weed leads to weight gain.

The findings challenge what we thought we knew about this drug and could lead us to understand how it affects the human body more deeply. The research also revealed a startling statistic: People who smoked marijuana on average weighed six pounds less than those who don’t smoke at all.

And while a lot more research needs to be done before any conclusions can be made, this is still very exciting news for anyone looking for a way to lose weight or maintain their current size without drugs or surgery.