Weight loss and cannabis

While CBD isn't marketed specifically as a weight-loss tool, there is research to back up claims that you could use it to shed a few pounds.

The old cliché that weed makes you hungry and fat has been thoroughly disproved in recent years - while some forms of marijuana do increase your appetite, there are also strains that seem capable of suppressing appetite and actually boosting your metabolism.

A study published in Obesity in 2016, for example, examined 786 Alaskan-born adults in a community known for its high rate of cannabis use. Just over half of the study population used cannabis, and these individuals had a lower body fat percentage and BMI than non-consumers.

In a 2016 study, it was shown that 57.4 % of cannabis users had a lower percentage of body fat than non-users.

In addition, Murray Mittleman, Associate Professor of Medicine at the Harvard Medical School, explained to Time Magazine in 2013 that cannabis users had lower fasting insulin levels and were less resistant to the insulin produced by the body. He was referring to research by National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, which analyzed 4,600 men and women over a five-year period, from 2005 to 2010. 48% of them had used cannabis at least once in their lives, and 12% were current users.

Unlike so many other studies, this one controlled for factors such as income, gender, age, alcohol consumption, smoking and physical activity. After making the necessary adjustments, those currently using marijuana had fasting insulin levels 16 % lower than the rest of the group.

That's all well and good, but the studies above relate to the use of marijuana, which includes the psychoactive compound THC. What we want to know is whether CBD is capable of producing weight-loss effects on its own.

Let's take a closer look, because recent research suggests that it's possible.

CBD as an appetite suppressant

Cannabinoids such as CBD act on the body's endocannabinoid system (ECS), which is considered one of the most important physiological systems in the human body. It organizes and regulates multiple important functions, including mood, sleep and, yes, appetite.

The two best-known cannabinoid receptors are CB1 and CB2, and the ECS system is now thought to be vital for preserving homeostasis, a general term used to describe the body's maintenance of equilibrium.

This is probably why CBD is able to stimulate appetite in people who urgently need nutrition, while suppressing appetite in those who need to lose weight. The active compound helps keep the body in balance, so if you need to gain weight, it can help improve your appetite, but if you're overweight, it may be able to curb your urge to eat.

A 2012 study published in Psychopharmacology tested the impact of three cannabinoids - CBD, CBN and CBG - on rat appetite. The researchers found that only CBN increased the rats' appetite, while CBG and CBD both decreased it.

While these results should by no means be taken as direct clinical evidence that CBD for weight loss is a proven remedy for obesity, the studies mentioned above should certainly warrant further research into the subject. And to be sure, many people are already using CBD-based products to help them control their appetite and lose weight. Do a little online research to find customer comments and reviews, and you'll see what we mean.

CBD could boost your metabolism

Another study, published in Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry in 2016, showed that CBD played a major role in the «fat browning» process. Brown fat is a specialized deposit of fat that can produce heat and increase energy expenditure.

There are two types of fat in our bodies: white adipose tissue and brown adipose tissue. Babies have brown fat, but this usually disappears with age, so that by adulthood our bodies are almost entirely made up of white fat. That's a shame, because brown fat is thermogenic and helps you burn calories!

In any case, the study investigated the effects of CBD on immature fat cells, known as preadipocytes. Overall, the research team came to the following conclusions:

In addition, a study published in the Journal of Neuroendocrinology has suggested that the ECS system is capable of stimulating specific areas of the body involved in metabolism, such as skeletal muscles and the digestive tract. This is due to the presence of anandamide and 2-AG, two compounds naturally present in the body that interact with CB1 and CB2 receptors.

As CBD stimulates receptors, it could help metabolize compounds absorbed by food during digestion. In other words, it could help us lose weight.

While over-stimulation of CB1 receptors can lead to symptoms such as high blood pressure and abnormally high cholesterol levels, CBD is a CB1 antagonist, so is unlikely to cause such problems. In addition, the World Health Organization recently published a global report on CBD, stating that it has a good safety profile and minimal negative effects on public health.

Correct dosage of CBD for weight loss

Due to the uniqueness of each person's endocannabinoid system, CBD affects no two people in the same way. A multitude of factors influence its efficacy, including genetics, history of use, general health, weight, ethnicity and so on. As a result, while one person may find that 15 mg of CBD a day works wonders to suppress appetite and stimulate weight loss, another may need 100 mg (or more) to achieve the same results (or no results at all).

With regard to the CBD dosage for weight loss, it's always wise to start small and adhere to the old medical mantra of the «minimum effective dose».

In this case, we recommend starting with 5 mg of CBD and maintaining this dose for several days. Increase your CBD intake if necessary, and continue to increase the dose every few days if you feel no difference. It's normal to take up to 30 days for the full effects of CBD to be felt.

Please also note that CBD should NOT be misunderstood as a miracle cure - and no reputable CBD seller or manufacturer should claim otherwise. Also, if you're using CBD for weight loss purposes, don't expect it to work if you eat fast food three times a day and your exercise routine consists of straining to twist the cap off your beer bottle!

The basis of any effort to lose weight must be a balanced diet and an active, healthy lifestyle - using CBD oil certainly won't make you shed pounds on its own. It can, however, help speed up the process considerably if you take the necessary steps to improve other aspects of your daily life.

Final answer: Can CBD for weight loss work?

With some degree of confidence, we can say that CBD oil for weight loss is not a scam. As we pointed out above, there's enough evidence of CBD's positive effect on weight loss to suggest that it should be the subject of further clinical and scientific study.

Based on the academic research available, it appears that CBD oil for weight loss is completely legal, unlike many of the fat-burning scams that preceded it.

Although research is ongoing, studies have already shown that CBD can help reduce appetite, boost metabolism and control insulin levels in diabetics. What's more, even if you're not taking it with the aim of improving an obesity problem, CBD has been shown to help with other issues such as chronic pain, anxiety, depression and insomnia.

In short, if combined with a proper diet and active lifestyle, it's very realistic (even likely) that CBD oil can help you lose weight. Check out some of the academic references linked above, and you'll see that, unlike so many other weight-loss scams that have come before it, this claim appears to be legitimate.