According to the World Health Organization, close to 2 billion people aged 18 years or older were overweight in 2016. Out of this number, 650 million people were obese. 

Now, you could be wondering what it means to be overweight and obese. 

Although ‘obesity’ and ‘overweight’ are often used interchangeably, these terms do not exactly denote the same thing. Generally, an adult is considered overweight if their body mass index (BMI) is equal to or greater than 25. On the other hand, you’re obese if your BMI is equal to or greater than 30. Body mass index is a weight-for-health index calculated by dividing your weight (in kilograms) by the square of your height (in meters). 

It’s worth noting that the rules for calculating obesity and overweight differ by age. The formula mentioned above applies only to adults over 18 years. 

All in all, there’s no pride in being overweight or obese. This is why it’s necessary to prevent these conditions from developing or treat them as soon as possible. 

This post shall highlight the role of CBD in helping you lose weight.

Causes and Treatments of Obesity

The primary cause of obesity and overweight is the imbalance between calories consumed and calories expended. Two factors can trigger this imbalance. The first is an increased intake of foods that are high in calories, fats, and sugars. And secondly, a marked reduction in physical activity. 

If untreated, obesity and overweight might increase your chances of developing cardiovascular diseases, such as heart disease, hypertension, and stroke. Diabetes is another chronic disease associated with an unchecked increase in weight. Medical researchers have also established a close link between obesity and certain cancers like breast cancer and ovarian, liver, kidney, prostate, colon, and endometrial cancer. Obesity and being overweight might also open you up to musculoskeletal disorders like osteoarthritis. 

Regardless of their far-reaching health implications, it’s reassuring to know that obesity and overweight are preventable. Some of the preventive measures include limiting the intake of calorie-dense foods, increasing plant-based foods intake, and having a robust workout routine. 

Even better, it’s now emerging that CBD might have the potential for treating or preventing obesity and excess weight gain. 

CBD (or cannabidiol) is the primary non-psychotropic extract obtained from the cannabis plant. Experts believe that consuming CBD alongside other cannabis compounds like delta 8 might help keep your weight in check while also relieving various weight-related disorders. 

How CBD Helps With Weight Loss

1. CBD Can Reduce Your Appetite

Many people associate marijuana with appetite stimulation. Unknown to them, weed’s appetite-stimulating properties are mostly controlled by the plant’s psychoactive compounds like tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). In fact, certain cannabis extracts like CBD produce quite the opposite effects. When cannabidiol enters the body, the substance deactivates specific receptors associated with increased appetite. These receptors are known as CB1 receptors.

Due to CBD’s effects on CB1 receptors, weed experts often advise recreational marijuana users to consume THC along with CBD. When used together, CBD modulates the effects of THC by deactivating CB1 receptors, with which THC usually interacts.

So, while THC may give you the munchies, CBD will most likely curb your appetite and food cravings.

In a 2012 animal study, researchers noted a marked reduction in appetite among rats exposed to CBD. The same studies compared the effects of CBD and another popular cannabis extract, cannabigerol (CBG). While CBD reduced food intake over the test period, CBG showed no significant impact.

2. CBD Can Convert Bad Fat Into Good Fat

CBD might help keep your weight in check by converting the more harmful white fat (also known as bad fat) into the more beneficial brown fat. 

White fat is linked to numerous chronic diseases, including heart disease and diabetes. By converting it into brown fat, CBD not only lowers your risks of weight-related conditions. The substance also allows your body to enjoy the nutritional benefits offered by brown fat. 

According to findings by a 2018 research, brown fat cells are the more active forms of fat. These cells burn off energy as heat. That’s in contrast to their inactive white counterparts, which store calories instead of using them. 

3. CBD Might Prevent Metabolic Disorders

Like most cannabis extracts, cannabidiol contains powerful antioxidants, such as flavonoids. Antioxidants lower the risks of disease by preventing cellular damage occasioned by oxidative stress. 

So, besides helping to keep your weight in check, CBD might also reduce the risks of weight-related conditions like heart disease, diabetes, and certain cancers. 

According to this study, cannabidiol might lower the incidences of diabetes by mediating the body’s cholesterol levels. Some animal studies investigating the role of CBD in treating diabetes found that the compound could reduce cholesterol levels by an impressive 25%. 

CBD’s positive effects against cholesterol levels have a lot to do with the compound’s antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.

Using cannabidiol regularly can help keep your weight in check, and there are many studies to back that up. It’s also worth mentioning that CBD’s other therapeutic benefits might help with weight loss, albeit indirectly. For instance, cannabidiol is a renowned analgesic and anxiolytic herb. By relieving pain and anxiety, CBD can make it easy to focus on your workouts. More workouts ultimately translate to weight loss.