It may not be swimsuit season yet, but the weather is warming up and the deployment of COVID-19 vaccines could signal a more normal summer season ahead. After more than a year in quarantine, some people have begun improving their health and fitness in an effort to achieve the beach body look that that makes them most comfortable.
While diet and exercise are traditionally regarded as the main drivers of weight loss, some people may benefit from a little extra support toward reaching their goals. For some people, that support could come from a trendy cannabinoid called cannabidiol (CBD).
So far, there have been no studies indicating that CBD is a miracle weight loss tool, but there have been studies that suggest it could indirectly contribute to weight loss. This means that CBD may not effectively cause weight loss on its own, but it may compliment weight loss efforts when combined with other strategies, like diet and exercise.
Here are five ways CBD could contribute to weight loss:
- Convert white fat into brown fat - White fat is generally considered to be an unhealthy type of fat because it can increase the risk of illnesses like heart disease and diabetes. Brown fat is considered a more desirable type of fat because it is more metabolically active. Research shows that CBD can help someone turn the white fat in their body into brown fat, which can reduce the risk of certain diseases and burn more calories.
- Reduce inflammation - Thorough workouts can be great for someone’s health, but they can also cause muscle aches and soreness, especially when someone is not used to that type of exercise. CBD’s powerful anti-inflammatory effects can help minimize these aches and pains, and may even improve recovery times after strenuous exercise. This could be just the boost someone needs to stay consistent with a new workout routine and get a little closer to his or her fitness goals.
- Suppress appetite - Although cannabis that is high in tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) has gained a reputation for increasing appetite, research indicates that CBD can have the opposite effect. Research has shown that CBD can increase an animal’s sensitivity to leptin, which can affect food intake, bodyweight control and metabolism.
- Decrease insulin resistance - A large, cross-sectional study found that people who currently use or recently used cannabis products have lower levels of fasting insulin than people who don’t currently use cannabis products. Another study that examined the effects of CBD on mice found similar results. It found that CBD lowers the incidence of diabetes in non-obese diabetic mice.
- Minimize stress - High stress levels have been reportedly linked to hormonal imbalances, specifically an imbalance of the hormone cortisol. A cortisol imbalance can lead to weight gain, insulin resistance and even changes to the immune system. However, preliminary studies have shown that CBD may help reduce stress and anxiety. By managing stress, someone may see better results from their other weight loss efforts.
Weight loss can be a very personal journey, and the tools that help one person may not be as helpful for someone else. There may not be evidence yet that CBD can directly cause weight loss. However, the available research suggests there are several ways CBD can make the weight loss journey a little easier.
Sources
[1] https://www.ecowatch.com/cbd-for-weight-loss-2650406112.html
[2] https://www.healthcanal.com/health/cbd-oil-weight-loss
[3] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6163475/
[4] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27067870/
[5] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7023045/
[6] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2828614/
[7] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16364907/
[8] https://www.amjmed.com/article/S0002-9343(13)00200-3/fulltext#secd74879875e1345
[9] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16698671/
[10] https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/cortisol-and-weight-gain#effects-on-weight
[11] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5958156/
