Google “Does Marijuana make you skinny?” and you’ll find a plethora of news articles like this one in The Atlantic:
Study: Why Pot Smokers Are Skinnier
What is the science behind marijuana and metabolism? The American Journal of Medicine has published two research articles that showed regular marijuana usage boosts metabolism and helps people maintain a smaller waist circumference. In fact, The Atlantic article above quotes the Journal’s 2013 article on marijuana and metabolic syndrome.
Metabolic Syndrome Among Marijuana Users in the United States: An Analysis of National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey Data revealed that current marijuana smokers were less likely to have metabolic syndrome. Fourteen percent (13.98%) of current middle-aged marijuana users vs 17.5% of past users and 19.5% of never users presented with metabolic syndrome. (February 2016 issue.)
The Impact of Marijuana Use on Glucose, Insulin, and Insulin Resistance among US Adults revealed that current use of marijuana is associated with lower levels of fasting insulin, lower insulin resistance (homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance), and smaller waist circumference. (July 2013)
Both of these studies looked at survey data. More research is obviously needed. In the July 2013 issue of the Journal, editor-in-chief Dr. Joseph S. Alpert called for opening up research on marijuana.
