- Obesity
THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION IS PRESENTED FOR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY. MEDICAL MARIJUANA INC. PROVIDES THIS INFORMATION TO PROVIDE AN UNDERSTANDING OF THE POTENTIAL APPLICATIONS OF CANNABIDIOL. LINKS TO THIRD PARTY WEBSITES DO NOT CONSTITUTE AN ENDORSEMENT OF THESE ORGANIZATIONS BY MEDICAL MARIJUANA INC. AND NONE SHOULD BE INFERRED.Obesity is a medical condition involving excessive body fat that increases the risk of serious health conditions like heart disease and diabetes. Studies have shown marijuana is associated with a lower prevalence of obesity and may stimulate changes in the body’s metabolic process.
OVERVIEW OF OBESITYObesity is a disorder caused by having an excessive amount of body fat. One is considered obese when their body mass index (BMI) is 30 or higher. Body mass index is calculated by dividing body weight (in pounds) by height (in inches squared), then multiplying that value by 703.
Obesity is caused by taking in more calories than are burned through daily activities and exercise. Any excess calories consumed are stored as fat. Inactivity and unhealthy eating habits contribute to the creation of a calorie surplus and thus obesity. Genetics also play a role in how efficiently the body converts energy and burns calories. In addition, with age come hormonal changes and typically a less active lifestyle that contributes to obesity.
Obesity significantly increases the risk of heart disease, diabetes and high blood pressure. In addition, being obese increases the risk of developing cancer, arthritis, fatty liver disease and stroke. It can also lead to depression, disability, sexual problems, shame and guilt.
In many cases, obesity can be treated with an increase in physical activity and dietary changes. However, in some cases, medications or weight-loss surgery is required.
FINDINGS: EFFECTS OF CANNABIS ON OBESITYCannabis is well known as an effective appetite stimulant, so one would assume that its use would contribute to weight gain. However, the opposite effect has been shown true. Cannabis use has found to be associated with a lower BMI, lower body fat percentage, lower fasting insulin and lower insulin resistance (Ngueta, Belanger, Laouan-Sidi & Lucas, 2015). Multiple surveys also found the prevalence of obesity to be lower in cannabis users than in nonusers (Le Strat & Le Foll, 2011). Animal studies found that cannabis protected rats against obesity (Levendal, Schumann, Donath & Frost, 2012).
The relationship between cannabinoids and the body’s metabolic processes, however, remains unknown. The endocannabinoid system controls metabolic function and it’s THC’s agonist effect on the CB1 receptor of that system that stimulates appetite. Therefore, the fact that THC also provides weight loss effects is unexpected. A hypothesis is that the cannabinoids found in cannabis help to regulate an endocannabinoid system that has become dysregulated. An unbalanced energy intake has been found to cause the endocannabinoid system to become dysregulated and overactive, which in turn likely contributes to fat accumulation and obesity (Di Marzo, 2008). Researchers have suggested that cannabis may have a broad-spectrum regulatory effect; it increases weight in those who are underweight and reduces weight in those who are overweight (Sansone & Sansone, 2014) (Matias & Di Marzo, 2007).
STATES THAT HAVE APPROVED MEDICAL MARIJUANA FOR OBESITYNo states have approved medical marijuana specifically for the treatment of obesity. However, in Washington D.C., any condition can be approved for medical marijuana as long as a DC-licensed physician recommends the treatment. In addition, a number of other states will consider allowing medical marijuana to be used for the treatment of obesity with the recommendation from a physician. These states include: California (any debilitating illness where the medical use of marijuana has been recommended by a physician), Connecticut (other medical conditions may be approved by the Department of Consumer Protection), Massachusetts (other conditions as determined in writing by a qualifying patient’s physician), Nevada (other conditions subject to approval), Oregon (other conditions subject to approval), Rhode Island (other conditions subject to approval), and Washington (any “terminal or debilitating condition”).
RECENT STUDIES ON CANNABIS’ EFFECT ON OBESITY
OVERVIEW OF OBESITYObesity is a disorder caused by having an excessive amount of body fat. One is considered obese when their body mass index (BMI) is 30 or higher. Body mass index is calculated by dividing body weight (in pounds) by height (in inches squared), then multiplying that value by 703.
Obesity is caused by taking in more calories than are burned through daily activities and exercise. Any excess calories consumed are stored as fat. Inactivity and unhealthy eating habits contribute to the creation of a calorie surplus and thus obesity. Genetics also play a role in how efficiently the body converts energy and burns calories. In addition, with age come hormonal changes and typically a less active lifestyle that contributes to obesity.
Obesity significantly increases the risk of heart disease, diabetes and high blood pressure. In addition, being obese increases the risk of developing cancer, arthritis, fatty liver disease and stroke. It can also lead to depression, disability, sexual problems, shame and guilt.
In many cases, obesity can be treated with an increase in physical activity and dietary changes. However, in some cases, medications or weight-loss surgery is required.
FINDINGS: EFFECTS OF CANNABIS ON OBESITYCannabis is well known as an effective appetite stimulant, so one would assume that its use would contribute to weight gain. However, the opposite effect has been shown true. Cannabis use has found to be associated with a lower BMI, lower body fat percentage, lower fasting insulin and lower insulin resistance (Ngueta, Belanger, Laouan-Sidi & Lucas, 2015). Multiple surveys also found the prevalence of obesity to be lower in cannabis users than in nonusers (Le Strat & Le Foll, 2011). Animal studies found that cannabis protected rats against obesity (Levendal, Schumann, Donath & Frost, 2012).
The relationship between cannabinoids and the body’s metabolic processes, however, remains unknown. The endocannabinoid system controls metabolic function and it’s THC’s agonist effect on the CB1 receptor of that system that stimulates appetite. Therefore, the fact that THC also provides weight loss effects is unexpected. A hypothesis is that the cannabinoids found in cannabis help to regulate an endocannabinoid system that has become dysregulated. An unbalanced energy intake has been found to cause the endocannabinoid system to become dysregulated and overactive, which in turn likely contributes to fat accumulation and obesity (Di Marzo, 2008). Researchers have suggested that cannabis may have a broad-spectrum regulatory effect; it increases weight in those who are underweight and reduces weight in those who are overweight (Sansone & Sansone, 2014) (Matias & Di Marzo, 2007).
STATES THAT HAVE APPROVED MEDICAL MARIJUANA FOR OBESITYNo states have approved medical marijuana specifically for the treatment of obesity. However, in Washington D.C., any condition can be approved for medical marijuana as long as a DC-licensed physician recommends the treatment. In addition, a number of other states will consider allowing medical marijuana to be used for the treatment of obesity with the recommendation from a physician. These states include: California (any debilitating illness where the medical use of marijuana has been recommended by a physician), Connecticut (other medical conditions may be approved by the Department of Consumer Protection), Massachusetts (other conditions as determined in writing by a qualifying patient’s physician), Nevada (other conditions subject to approval), Oregon (other conditions subject to approval), Rhode Island (other conditions subject to approval), and Washington (any “terminal or debilitating condition”).
RECENT STUDIES ON CANNABIS’ EFFECT ON OBESITY
- Cannabis use was found to be associated with a lower BMI, lower fasting insulin levels, and lower insulin resistance.
Cannabis use in relation to obesity and insulin resistance in the inuit population.
(http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/oby.20973/full)
- Cannabis extract significantly slowed body weight gain in rats on a weight-gain diet.
Cannabis exposure associated with weight reduction and β-cell protection in an obese rat model.
(http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0944711312000402)
- Di Marzo, V. (2008, August). The endocannabinoid system in obesity and type 2 diabetes. Diabetologia, 51(8), 1356-67. Retrieved from http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs00125-008-1048-2.
- Di Marzo, V., and Matias, I. (2005, May). Endocannabinoid control of food intake and energy balance. Nature Neuroscience, 8(5), 585-589. Retrieved from http://www.nature.com/neuro/journal/v8/n5/full/nn1457.html.
- Kobyliak, N., Virchenko, O., and Falalyeyeva, T. (2015). Pathophysiological role of host microbiota in the development of obesity. Nutrition Journal, 15, 43. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4841968/.
- Kunos, G., Osei-Hyiaman, D., Liu, J., Godlewski, and Batkai, S. (2008). Endocannabinoids and the control of energy homeostasis. The Journal of Biological Chemistry, 283, 33021-33025. Retrieved from http://www.jbc.org/content/283/48/33021.full.
- Le Strat, Y., and Le Foll, B. (2011). Obesity and Cannabis Use: Results From 2 Representative National Surveys. American Journal of Epidemiology, doi: 10.1093/aje/kwr200. Retrieved from https://academic.oup.com/aje/article/174/8/929/155851/Obesity-and-Cannabis-Use-Results-From-2.
- Levandal, R.A., Schumann, D., Donath, M., and Frost, C.L. (2012, May 15). Cannabis exposure associated with weight reduction and β-cell protection in an obese rat model. Phytomedicine, 19(7), 575-82. Retrieved from http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0944711312000402.
- Matias, I., and Di Marzo, V. (2007, January-February). Endocannabinoids and the control of energy balance. Trends in Endocrinology and Metabolism: TEM, 18(1), 27-37. Retrieved from http://www.cell.com/trends/endocrinology-metabolism/fulltext/S1043-2760(06)00243-8.
- Ngueta, G., Belanger, R.E., Laouan-Sidi, E.A., and Lucas, M. (2015, February). Cannabis use in relation to obesity and insulin resistance in the inuit population. Obesity, 23(2), 290-295. Retrieved from http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/oby.20973/full.
- Obesity. (2015, June 10). Mayo Clinic. Retrieved from http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/obesity/basics/definition/con-20014834.
- Rossi, F., Bellini, G., Luongo, L., Manzo, I., Tolone, S., Tortora, C., Bernardo, M.E., Grandone, A., Conforti, A., Docimo, L., Nobili, B., Perrone, L., Locatelli, F., Maione, S., and Del Giudice, E.M. (2016, September). Cannabinoid receptor 2 as anti-obesity target: inflammation, fat storage and browning modulation. The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, 101(9), 3469-78. Retrieved from https://academic.oup.com/jcem/article-abstract/101/9/3469/2806822/Cannabinoid-Receptor-2-as-Antiobesity-Target?redirectedFrom=fulltext.
- Sansone, R.A., and Sansone, L.A. (2014). Marijuana and Body Weight. Innovations in Clinical Neuroscience, 11(7-8), 50–54. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4204468/.
- Simopoulos, A.P. (2016). An Increase in the Omega-6/Omega-3 Fatty Acid Ratio Increases the Risk for Obesity. Nutrients, 8(3), 128. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4808858/.