Over half of the American adults say they’ve used a CBD product. It’s no wonder, considering research says CBD is effective for lowering inflammation, anxiety, depression, chronic pain, insomnia, neurological disorders, and other health issues. But what about weight loss?

I’ve talked with a healthcare professional and spent countless hours going over the available research on CBD and weight loss. Here’s whether CBD can help you lose weight.

 

Quick Summary

• CBD is a cannabis plant extract that can provide numerous health benefits.
• CBD can help weight loss in different ways.
• More research is needed to know the effects of taking CBD for weight loss.

 

What is CBD?

CBD is one of over 100 compounds found in the cannabis plant. Next to THC, it’s the main active compound. However, unlike THC, CBD isn’t intoxicating, which means it won’t make you feel high. But CBD affects the body in different ways. 

Current research shows CBD can reduce pain, lower anxiety, high blood pressure, and inflammation, help with cancer symptoms, and provide other health benefits. 

Hemp-derived CBD products became legal in 2018 under the Farm Bill as long as they have less than 0.3% THC. Nowadays, you can choose between various CBD products, such as CBD pills, edibles, CBD oil, tinctures, vapes, and more.

 

Does CBD Help With Weight Loss?

Yes, CBD can help with weight loss. CBD affects the endocannabinoid system in our bodies. This system is in charge of different functions, such as sleep, mood, pain, appetite, and more, and has two cannabinoid receptors:

• CB1 — Located in the brain and the central nervous system
• CB2 — In the immune system

CB1 receptors are more widely spread in people with obesity, especially in their fatty tissues. CBD activates cannabinoid receptors, which can play a role in weight loss.

The research agrees with this belief. One study found that there’s a clear connection between changes in appetite, weight gain, and emotions connected with food.

How Can CBD Benefit Losing Weight

CBD can benefit losing weight in different ways.

• Boosts the Metabolism

CBD can lower appetite and boost metabolism, which results in weight loss. Our metabolism rate is how fast the body expends energy. A fast metabolism means more calories are burned throughout the day, even during rest. 

CBD interacts with CB1 and CB2 receptors in the lymphoid tissues and the brain, and these receptors are important for metabolism.

• Reduces Appetite

There’s a common belief that cannabis stimulates appetite. While this is true for THC, there’s no evidence CBD does the same. THC stimulates the CB1 receptor, which releases a hormone that increases hunger.

However, one study found that CB1 antagonists reduce appetite and food intake and can control obesity. Also, stimulating CB2 receptors leads to lower inflammation and food intake, which can also help regulate obesity. 

• Fat Cell Browning

Our bodies have two kinds of fat: white and brown fat cells. White fat is predominant and is in charge of storing and supplying energy and insulating the organs. This fat is also associated with chronic illnesses, such as diabetes and heart disease.

Brown fat generates heat by burning calories. Healthy people have more brown fat than white fat. CBD can help in turning white fat into brown fat, which is called browning, and helps the body burn calories.

CBD Weight Loss Stories

So far, most of the research on CBD and weight loss has been done on animals or in vitro studies, not people. There’s more research needed on humans to know exactly how CBD affects weight loss and does it have a place in the health and wellness industry.

However, there are plenty of weight loss stories from people who’ve been taking CBD oil or other products. For example, people who have been heavy all their life claim they lost weight using full-spectrum CBD oil or broad-spectrum CBD oil.

Moreover, there are even stories from people who do bodybuilding that organic CBD oil help with muscle gains during the cutting stages. 

Finally, there are stories that claim CBD oils help lose weight, but also weight management, especially in people whose metabolism slowed down with age.

 

Should You Try CBD for Achieving Healthy Weight?

Current research shows promising results. CBD can help you burn fat, eat less, and manage a healthy weight. However, all current studies were done on animals. We need data from people who used CBD to lose weight.

However, there are plenty of stories from CBD users who say CBD products helped them reach their ideal weight. Make sure to use high-quality CBD oil, and follow the instructions on the label for the best weight loss results.

 

References

Survey: 64% Of U.S. Adults Think CBD Is Safer Than Alcohol, Despite Legality Concerns. (2022, April 21). Forbes Health. https://www.forbes.com/health/body/2022-cbd-survey/ 

Farm Bill. (n.d.). Www.usda.gov. https://www.usda.gov/farmbill 

Gorelick, J., Assa-Glazer, T., Zandani, G., Altberg, A., Sela, N., Nyska, A., & Madar, Z. (2022). THC and CBD affect metabolic syndrome parameters, including microbiome in mice fed a high fat-cholesterol diet. Journal of cannabis research, 4(1), 27. https://doi.org/10.1186/s42238-022-00137-w

Koch M. (2017). Cannabinoid Receptor Signaling in Central Regulation of Feeding Behavior: A Mini-Review. Frontiers in neuroscience, 11, 293. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnins.2017.00293

Rossi, F., Punzo, F., Umano, G. R., Argenziano, M., & Miraglia Del Giudice, E. (2018). Role of Cannabinoids in Obesity. International journal of molecular sciences, 19(9), 2690. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms19092690

Parray, H. A., & Yun, J. W. (2016). Cannabidiol promotes browning in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Molecular and cellular biochemistry, 416(1-2), 131–139. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11010-016-2702-5