Can marijuana protect us from obesity?
Plagued by ever-rising rates of obesity and increasingly sedentary lifestyles, the time has come for Canadians to take a hit for health. Or so a recent American survey, linking regular marijuana use to improvements in metabolic health would suggest.
More specifically, the National Health and Nutritional Examination Survey found that Americans aged 20 to 59 who identified as regular users of the recreational (though illegal) drug showed improved insulin sensitivity and had smaller waist lines compared to non-user counterparts.
Both insulin sensitivity and waist circumference are strongly connected with the health and function of an individual’s metabolism.
Larger waist circumferences indicate that more fat is being stored in the harmful visceral fat depot, located deep within the abdominal cavity. As fat continues to accumulate at this site it is more likely to spill over to neighbouring peripheral tissues, such as liver and muscle where it interferes with signalling and compromises the integrity of these tissues.
Likewise, sensitivity to insulin is necessary for tissues to take up substrates from the blood to be used for energy. Insulin is secreted from the pancreas in response to elevated blood sugar levels. If tissues cannot respond to insulin, the pancreas will work to compensate by releasing more of the hormone into circulation. This adaptation is short-lived and spikes in insulin levels can indicate a problem responding to insulin and future complications for fuel metabolism.
In this way, the decreased insulin levels and lower waist sizes of regular marijuana users represent a positive adaptation.
Though the connection between marijuana use and changes in metabolism remain to be determined, the process is thought to involve the production of a protein known as adiponectin. Secreted from fat cells, adiponectin is connected to improvements in energy regulation and fat and carbohydrate metabolism.
The process is thought to involve the cannabinoid type 1 and 2 receptors. Studies considering the mechanism have shown that compounds, both synthetic and natural, which limit the activation of these receptors link to improved insulin sensitivity, decreased waist circumference and protection against diet induced obesity. However, these effects tend to be limited in instances where adiponectin is not available. Interestingly, a rodent study demonstrated that rats administered cannabis lost weight and displayed improved pancreatic health.
Still, before skipping the gym and forgetting the food guide, there are certainly limitations to be considered. The study was designed as a self-reported recall of activities and habits, and surveys of this sort may be skewed, particularly when individuals are assessing the health and quality of their lifestyle.