Cannabidiol (CBD), a non-psychotropic cannabinoid found in the Cannabis sativa plant, has garnered attention for its potential therapeutic applications. While research into CBD's effects is ongoing, there's growing interest in its possible role in weight loss. This article dives into the existing research, potential benefits, risks, and legal status of CBD, providing a comprehensive overview for those interested in exploring this topic.
Understanding CBD
CBD is one of over 100 compounds, known as cannabinoids, found in cannabis. It's the second most abundant cannabinoid after tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and composes up to 40% of the plant’s extract. Unlike THC, CBD does not have psychoactive effects, meaning that it does not cause a “high.” However, CBD affects your body in other ways. It’s thought to stimulate certain receptors to reduce pain, anxiety, and inflammation. It stops the breakdown of anandamide - a chemical often referred to as the “bliss molecule” - in your brain. This allows anandamide to stay in your system longer, helping relieve pain and boost brain function. CBD may also regulate the production of inflammatory molecules called cytokines, thereby reducing inflammation and pain.
The Endocannabinoid System and Weight Loss
CBD may aid weight loss due to how it affects the body and brain. The effects of CBD in the body are largely due to how it affects the body’s natural endocannabinoid system. This system responds to different chemicals in the body through two cannabinoid (CB) receptors, called the CB1 and CB2 receptors. CB1 receptors are most dense in the brain and central nervous system. CB2 receptors are mainly in the immune system. In people with obesity, however, CB1 receptors become more widespread, especially in fatty tissue. Because of this, researchers believe that there may be a link between the activation of the CB1 receptors and obesity. CBD works with other cannabinoids to potentially activate many receptors, such as endocannabinoid and serotonin. This may play a role in weight loss or other critical metabolic functions.
Potential Mechanisms of CBD for Weight Loss
Reducing Appetite
Many proponents say that CBD can help a person lose weight by reducing their appetite. Most people associate cannabis with a stimulated appetite, as people tend to feel hungry after using cannabis. While THC may cause hunger, there is little evidence that CBD does the same. THC, when it stimulates the CB1 receptor, releases a hormone that increases food intake. On the other hand, CB1 receptor antagonists may help reduce appetite and control obesity. This is because CB1 receptor antagonists block off or “deactivate” the receptor. Stimulating the CB2 receptors decreases inflammation and reduces food intake, thereby possibly helping reduce obesity.
A systematic review suggests that cannabidiol has an anorexigenic effect, correlated with a decrease in body weight. Conversely, only one study reported on CBD possibly increasing appetite and two of the trials did not find any significant effect on either direction.
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Turning Bad Fat into Good Fat
Proponents of CBD for weight loss also claim that it can convert white, or “bad,” fat into brown fat, which may help the body burn calories. White fat may increase the risk of many chronic conditions, such as heart disease and diabetes.
A 2016 study helps back up this claim. The researchers found that CBD plays multiple roles in how the body interacts with fat. In the study, CBD helped convert white fat cells into brown fat cells. It also stimulated the body to break down fats more efficiently. The researchers note that CBD may be a promising therapy for preventing obesity, but more studies in humans are necessary.
Research from 2018 helps explain how CBD might break down fats in the body. The process of turning white fat cells to brown fat cells actually changes how these cells act in the body. Brown fat cells may be a more active form of fat. They burn off energy as heat, meaning that they actually burn calories. As a loss of calories is important for weight loss, CBD may help burn fat if it turns white fat to brown fat in the body.
Reducing the Risk of Metabolic Disorders
There is a close link between obesity and several metabolic disorders, such as type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol. Overactivation of the CB receptors in the body may be partly responsible for this. Overactivation of the CB1 receptors in the fat tissue throughout the body could contribute to obesity and metabolic risks.
A review in Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research also notes some highlights of past studies surrounding CBD and metabolic factors in animals. For instance, a treatment using CBD reduced total cholesterol by 25% in rats with obesity. The anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects of CBD also appeared to decrease blood sugar levels and increase markers for liver health.
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Analyzing Clinical Trials: CBD and Its Impact on Appetite and Weight
To better clarify the potential impact of CBD on appetite and body weight in humans, a review was conducted, encompassing literature from PubMed and Cochrane databases up to July 31, 2022. The search term ‘cannabidiol’ was combined with the terms ‘weight’ or ‘appetite,’ using the query “cannabidiol AND (weight OR appetite)” in both databases. The review included peer-reviewed, original randomized placebo-controlled trials of CBD in humans that reported data on either appetite or body weight changes.
The initial search yielded 270 results from PubMed and 133 from Cochrane, which were assessed via title and abstract. After initial screening, 17 duplicate records were removed, and 365 were excluded for failing to meet the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The full text of the remaining 21 articles was then retrieved and analyzed, ultimately including 11 randomized controlled trials.
Findings from Included Studies
Several of the included trials provided insights into CBD's effects on appetite and body weight:
- C. sativa Inhalation: In a crossover design clinical trial, ten healthy male participants were given CBD-rich C. sativa by inhalation. Reported hunger, sweet food intake, and food preference did not significantly differ between interventions, but a decrease in the desire to eat and a higher fullness was rated with CBD.
- Type 2 Diabetes Trial: In a clinical trial involving 62 adult subjects with non-insulin-treated type 2 diabetes, CBD was administered orally at a dose of 100 mg, twice daily, for 13 weeks.
- Dravet Syndrome Trials: Several trials involving children with Dravet syndrome tested CBD as an add-on therapy to antiepileptic drugs to reduce the frequency of seizures. A decreased appetite was a common adverse event, with an apparent dose-relationship observed.
- Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome Trials: Studies with patients with treatment-resistant Lennox-Gastaut syndrome, receiving a CBD oral solution at a dose of either 10 mg/kg or 20 mg/kg for 14 weeks, showed that a decreased appetite was one of the most common adverse events among patients taking CBD, which was more common in the higher dose arm.
- Autism Spectrum Disorder Trial: In a recent crossover-type randomized controlled trial, 150 children and adolescents with a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder were assigned either a solution of purified CBD and Δ9-THC at a 20:1 ratio or a whole-plant cannabis extract at the same ratio and concentration. Following dose titration, participants were exposed to their intervention for 12 weeks. Both formulas elicited a decrease in appetite, although no statistically significant difference was found between them.
- Coronavirus Disease 2019 Study: A trial with 105 adult participants investigating the effects of CBD in coronavirus disease 2019 randomly allocated 49 individuals to receive a plant-derived, highly purified CBD oral solution at either 10 mg/kg/day or 20 mg/kg/day for 2 weeks.
- CBD Withdrawal Symptoms Study: In a study aimed at investigating potential withdrawal symptoms in CBD users, 30 volunteers received a highly purified pharmaceutical formulation of CBD at a high dose (750 mg twice a day) for 4 weeks.
Risk of Bias
Among the included randomized controlled trials, four were deemed as a low risk of bias and eight were labeled as raising some concerns. The randomization process, the selection of reported results, and especially the missing outcome data were the domains identified as major potential sources of bias.
Important Considerations and Cautions
While initial results from studies on CBD and weight loss raise some interesting potential connections, there are a few important things to consider. CBD, or any other compound, supplement, or drug, is not a treatment for obesity. These supplements and compounds are not healthful replacements for a healthful diet and regular exercise. A person who adds CBD to their weight loss plan without also exercising and eating healthfully may not see any benefits.
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It is best to work directly with a doctor when using CBD for weight loss. Doctors will want to discuss any other medications the person is taking, as CBD may cause adverse interactions. The FDA does not regulate CBD products in the same way they regulate drugs, so companies sometimes mislabel or misrepresent their products. That means it’s especially important to do some research and find a quality product.
Potential Risks of CBD
Always talk to a physician or pharmacist prior to taking CBD, especially if you plan on taking it alongside any prescription medications. If you’re trying to lose weight, speaking to a doctor and/or dietitian can help you determine the best plan of action for you considering your diet, lifestyle, and weight loss goals.
If you do decide to consider trying it, there are a few health and safety considerations to be aware of, per the FDA:
- Liver Injury: CBD can cause liver injury at high doses.
- Drug Interactions: If you’re taking other drugs, CBD can affect how they work, potentially causing serious side effects. Use of CBD with alcohol or other drugs that slow brain activity, like those used to treat anxiety, panic, stress, or sleep disorders, increases the risk of sedation and drowsiness, which can lead to injuries.
- Male Reproductive Toxicity: Male reproductive toxicity, or damage to fertility in males or male offspring of females who have been exposed, has been reported in studies of animals exposed to CBD.
- Side Effects: CBD can cause side effects like feeling drowsy, diarrhea, having a decreased appetite, and mood changes, like irritability and agitation.
Navigating the Legal Landscape of CBD
The Farm Bill, signed into law in the United States in late 2018, states that hemp and hemp-derived products with a THC content of less than 0.3% are legal. The legal status of CBD and other cannabinoids, however, varies by state.
The 2018 Farm Bill removed hemp from the legal definition of marijuana in the Controlled Substances Act. This made some hemp-derived CBD products with less than 0.3% THC federally legal. However, CBD products containing more than 0.3% THC still fall under the legal definition of marijuana, making them federally illegal but legal under some state laws. Be sure to check state laws, especially when traveling.
Lifestyle Modifications for Weight Loss
"Lifestyle modifications like diet and exercise should always be started first and included with any weight loss regimen," explains Dr. Buck. "The dose of CBD can be very different from patient to patient," says Dr. Buck, noting that starting doses of 20 to 30 milligrams are usually appropriate, but individual dosage amounts should be discussed with your health care practitioner. CBD is generally fairly well tolerated, says Dr. Buck, adding that some people may develop side effects including gastrointestinal upset, diarrhea and sleepiness.
Consider these strategies for healthy weight management:
- Eat a healthy, balanced diet: This will vary depending on each person’s specific nutrient needs for their age, health status and any food allergies or intolerances.
- Increase daily fiber intake: This can support weight loss in many ways, including by improving gut microbiota diversity, which can make you feel fuller longer.
- Improve fluid intake.
- Move more each day: A 2025 study on the effect of physical activity on weight loss found that participants who engaged in 150 minutes or more of moderate to vigorous exercise per week, combined with caloric restriction, had greater fat loss and body weight loss than those who ate a calorie-restricted diet and exercised less.