Do pot smokers tend to be more slender? People who ‘toke’ or otherwise consume cannabis or cannabis-related products as a part of clinical trials typically experience weight loss, according to a meta-analysis recently published in the International Journal of Obesity.
Likewise, a 2022 ecological analysis published in the journal Health Economics reported that the adoption of state-licensed marijuana sales is associated with a decrease in state-level obesity rates. Surveys also show that people who exercise frequently use cannabis as part of their regimen, which may also factor into this pattern.
Case-control studies have consistently reported that those with a history of marijuana use are less likely than abstainers to be obese or to suffer from type 2 diabetes. Studies have also previously linked cannabis use to greater rates of physical activity.
Latest study supports trend
In the latest analysis, Brazilian researchers reviewed results from randomized controlled trials involving subjects’ use of cannabis or cannabis-related products. They reported: “In general, cannabis use reduced weight … and WC [waist circumference]. When examining subgroups, longer follow-up periods were associated with a more pronounced BMI [body mass index] reduction.”
The study’s authors concluded, “These findings suggest that cannabis and sub-products could be considered adjuncts in obesity treatment by helping to reduce relevant anthropometric measurements.”
Full text of the study, “Effects of cannabis and sub-products on anthropometric measures: A systematic review and meta-analysis,” appears in the International Journal of Obesity.