Body weight and Cannabis/Endocannabinoids: how are they interconnected?
Endocannabinoids and obesity
Research at the Charité Hospital in Berlin showed that the concentrations of circulating endocannabinoids (anandamide and 2-AG) were significantly elevated in obese compared to lean women. On the other hand, expression of the CB1 receptor and of the enzyme fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH), which is mainly responsible for the degradation of anandamide, were significantly increased in fat tissue of obese subjects compared to controls. Researchers note that their "findings support the presence of a peripheral endocannabinoid system that is upregulated in human obesity (BMI >26)."
Sources: www.cannabis-med.org; Engeli S, et al. Diabetes 2005;54(10):2838-43.
Body mass index and cannabis
US researchers investigated the correlation between cannabis use and body mass index (BMI). The BMI is a measure for the relationship between weight and height. A high BMI is found in obese subjects. The study with 297 women showed that despite cannabis is known to increase appetite, cannabis use in the past year was more common in subjects with low BMI, that is slim women.
Sources:[www.cannabis-med.org]; Warren M, et al. J Addict Dis 2005;24(3):95- 100.)
