A recently published study in the American Journal of Epidemiology found that rates of obesity are 33% less in people who smoke marijuana at least three times a week compared to non-smokers of marijuana.
The reporting of this study made me smile. First of all, don’t people who smoke marijuana get the munchies and wouldn’t that make them susceptible to weight-gain not weight-loss?
In fact, cannabis (marijuana) is given to cancer patients to help to increase their appetites. So, it is unclear as to why frequent smokers of marijuana are less obese than non-smokers.
One theory is that replacing what may be a compulsive habit of eating too much with pot smoking, may be the reason frequent pot smokers tend to be less obese.
Curt Hendrix, M.S., C.C.N., C.N.S.
