A new study has found marijuana users weigh less compared to those adults who do not smoke cannabis.
The study, conducted by a team from Michigan State University, found that the popular belief that marijuana users weigh more because of a serious case of the munchies is wrong. Even more surprising, the results also show that people who use marijuana more frequently are at a reduced risk of becoming obese. "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 told a news portal. Adding, "Only 15 per cent of persistent users were considered obese compared to 20 per cent of non-users."
For the study, funded by The National Institutes of Health, researchers analysed data from the National Epidemiologic Survey of Alcohol and Related Conditions. They made a note of almost 33,000 participants' body mass index (BMI). Participants were 18 or older. The results showed that the weight between users and non-users was not much different. Researchers found close to two pounds for a 5-foot-7-inch participant weighing about 200 pounds. “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 behaviours and still got this result,” lead author of the study Omayma Alshaarawy, told a news portal.
The new evidence builds on previous research that marijuana's effect on weight is not what was previously thought. "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," Alshaarawy told a news portal.
Why marijuana affects weight is still unknown. However, Alshaarawy explains some potential factors. "It could be something that’s more behavioural like someone becoming more conscious of their food intake as they worry about the munchies after cannabis use and gaining weight,” she told a news portal. Adding, "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."
However, researchers warn the new findings does not mean people should use cannabis for the purpose of losing weight. "There’s too many health concerns around cannabis that far outweigh the potential positive, yet modest, effects it has on weight gain,” Alshaarawy explained. "People shouldn’t consider it as a way to maintain or even lose weight," she further went on to explain.
The study's findings were originally published in the International Journal of Epidemiology.
Previous research has also found that by quitting marijuana you can drastically improve your memory. A psychoactive chemical found in this drug has been found to impact a person's IQ. Lead author of this research Dr Randi Schuster told a news portal: "The ability to learn or 'map down' new information, which is a critical facet of success in the classroom, improved with sustained non-use of cannabis.
