Now that cannabis has been legalized in many places around the world, including Canada, more studies are emerging on it, especially in the field of health. According to new research by a team from Michigan State University, led by a professor by the name of Omayma Alshaarawy, cannabis users may be prone to lower levels of obesity.
The team examined self-reported data from the National Epidemiologic Survey of Alcohol and Related Conditions to compare the Body Mass Index and cannabis use of some 33,000 Americans over two separate annual survey collections, in 2001-2002 and 2004-2005. The study was published this month in the International Journal of Epidemiology.
Alshaarawy and her research team discovered that, on average, cannabis users gained two pounds less than non-users.
A 2 pound different, on average, might not seem like much, but you have to remember that it was found in more than 30,000 people with all different kinds of lifestyles and behaviours. This is why the study points out that these numbers are significant. Whether or not it’s because of the cannabis and its physical properties itself or simply those under the influence being more conscious of what they are eating is something to be determined. Perhaps the cannabis is modifying certain cells or receptors in the body that can ultimately have an affect on weight gain, but more research is needed for that.
This plant is truly a miracle medicinal plant. Especially if you grow your own, which many people in Canada are doing under the ACMPR program.
As of now, the connection between cannabis and obesity is still just a correlation and not a causal relationship.
This isn’t the only study on the subject, below is another video talking about the cannabis, obesity phenomenon.