Weed smokers tend to weigh less, says new study

One of the things constantly badociated with marijuana use is the eventual creation of snack foods. Maybe you and your friends have been there at some point. You may have smoked a seal and accidentally finished an entire box of your favorite cereal. Although it probably did not help you become a summer beach body, science has highlighted an interesting phenomenon that affects smokers.

According to new data from researchers at Michigan State University, those who smoke cannabis or marijuana weigh less than adults. Posted in International Journal of Epidemiologythe results are against what you think you will be able to achieve.

Understanding snack foods

You may hear a lot about this term, but do you understand the science behind snack foods? Broken by a study by UCLA, marijuana triggers an appetite stimulating a hormone that sharpens your sense of smell and taste. The hormone called ghrelin stimulates your stomach's appetite.

The effects of THC on the hormone are so interesting to researchers that they could be used to treat a host of ailments. However, research from Michigan State University indicates an even more dynamic relationship between THC, hunger and weight gain.

L & # 39; study

Now, before considering using one joint per day to reduce weight, Omayma Alshaarawy, senior author and adjunct professor of family medicine, emphasizes that this is not the case. As mentioned in the study, "Cannabis raises too many health concerns that far outweigh its positive, albeit modest, effects on weight gain."

"People should not think of it as a way to maintain or even lose weight." There are, however, some very interesting footnotes from this study. To conduct this study, researchers used data from the national epidemiological survey on alcoholism and related conditions, examining: 33,000 participants, 18 years old and over.

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according to Alshaarawy, "Over a period of three years, all participants increased their weight, but it is interesting to note that those who used marijuana had a lower increase than those who never used marijuana. . "

"We found that users, even those who had just started, were more likely to have a normal, healthier weight and stay at that weight," she said. "Only 15% of persistent users were considered obese, compared to 20% of non-users."

In short, marijuana smokers over an extended period of time have shown little or no weight gain compared to their non-smoking peers. Additional research is needed to reach a complete conclusion, but it is good news for those participating in today's festivities.

Happy 4/20!