Obesity is one of the most prevalent diseases in the western world. It is a leading cause of mortality and disability in Canada, putting a huge financial strain on our healthcare system.
According to the World Health Organization, obesity is described as abnormal or excessive fat accumulation, caused by superfluous caloric intake and a sedentary lifestyle.
In a recent study published in the scientific journal Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry, a team of researchers studied the potential benefits of CBD in the treatment and prevention of obesity, finding that it can stimulate genes and proteins that enhance the breakdown of fat, decrease the expression of proteins in fat cell generation, and spur metabolic rates by increasing the number and activity of mitochondria.
CBD is also known to regulate appetite, stabilize sleeping patterns, and reduce depression which are all common issues for those suffering from obesity.
How can CBD help treat obesity?
Many scientific papers published in health journals concur that CBD, in particular, holds a lot of unexplored medical promise and may help with a range of conditions, from epilepsy to obesity.
In a new study that was published in the scientific journal Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry, a team of researchers studied the potential benefits of CBD in the treatment and prevention of obesity, finding that it can:
- Stimulate genes and proteins that enhance the breakdown of fat
- Decrease the expression of proteins in fat cell generation
- Spur metabolic rates by increasing the number and activity of mitochondria
However, things are not so simple. In certain cases, CBD can actually contribute to increased obesity. A 2012 study examining the effect of cannabinoids in the feeding patterns of rats, revealed that cannabinoids can enhance or decrease appetite and metabolism. For example, contrary to cannabidiol, cannabinol (CBN) appeared to increase appetite, thus making it unsuitable for weight management purposes.
CBD is also known to induce a process called “fat-browning”, essentially converting normal fat tissue to “brown” fat tissue that is more easily burned.
CBD is by no means a miracle cure for obesity, but supplementing with CBD while following a healthy diet and regular exercise program might help patients overcome obesity issues more easily.
Studies on CBD and Weight Management
- NCBI: Metabolic Syndrome Among Marijuana Users in the United States
- NCBI: Cannabis use in relation to obesity and insulin resistance in the Inuit population
- NCBI: The endocannabinoid system and energy metabolism
- NCBI: Cannabinoids and endocannabinoids in metabolic disorders with focus on diabetes
- NCBI: Cannabinol and cannabidiol exert opposing effects on rat feeding patterns
- NCBI: [The potential use of cannabidiol in the therapy of metabolic syndrome]