Home / Blog / CBD / CBD & Weight Loss: Can CBD Products Help You Reach a Healthier Weight?

CBD & Weight Loss: Can CBD Products Help You Reach a Healthier Weight?

Posted on July 14th, 2021

Not only can being overweight have an impact on your confidence, but it can increase your risk for developing many health conditions, including diabetes and heart disease. That’s why it’s so important for all adults to reach and maintain a healthy weight. Of course, losing weight is easier said than done. Even when people exercise and change the way they eat, they don’t always see dramatic results.

If you’ve been unsuccessful when you’ve tried to lose weight in the past, you may want to learn more about CBD & weight loss. CBD products may be able to help you to lose weight and keep it off.

Can CBD Help You Lose Weight?

Researchers still have a lot to learn about how CBD impacts the body, but studies show that CBD may be an effective tool for weight loss. CBD influences CB1 and CB2 receptors, which influence the metabolism and food intake. Studies on animals have shown that this can lead to significant weight loss. (1)

CBD can also serve as an appetite suppressant, helping you to control calorie intake and eat more reasonable portion sizes. While you’ll still be able to eat when you’re hungry, CBD can help to ward off hunger signals when you’re full. Studies on rodents have shown that it can significantly decrease food consumption. (2)

It’s also possible that CBD could have an impact on fat cells in the body. There are two different types of fat cells: white and brown. The body stores white fat cells to cushion organs and supply the body with energy. The body burns brown fat cells to generate heat.

There are many ways to convert white fat cells to brown ones, and CBD consumption may be one of them. Early research shows that CBD promotes lipid metabolism and can induce white cells to brown. (3) Having more brown cells than white ones can make it easier for you to maintain a healthy weight.

CBD Can Address Factors That Contribute to Weight Gain

Weight gain isn’t something that happens in a vacuum. While weight gain occurs when you consume more calories than you burn, there are a number of lifestyle factors that contribute to weight gain. If these factors aren’t addressed, it can hard to lose weight even through diet and exercise.

Stress is one of the most common causes of weight gain. When our bodies are stressed, they pump out a hormone known as cortisol. This hormone triggers the fight or flight response in the body. Since fighting or fleeing a situation isn’t always an option, many people turn to snacking instead.

CBD seems to offer an effective way to relieve stress and anxiety and has even been studied by scientists as a potential treatment for Generalized Anxiety Disorder. (4) Administering CBD sublingually is the fastest way to reduce feelings of stress. If you get in the habit of reaching for CBD instead of snacks when your stress levels are high, you may be able to lose weight without even trying.

A lack of sleep can also lead to weight gain. When you’re not getting enough rest, your body may send you hunger signals so that it can use food to provide you with energy. Insomnia may cause you to reach for foods that are high in carbohydrates, which are more likely to lead to weight gain.

Current research shows that CBD is effective at addressing many types of sleep disorders. CBD may also help people with sleep apnea to get more restful sleep. (5) Some CBD products include melatonin, which can enhance its potency as a sleep aid.

The Risks of CBD & Weight Loss

While CBD consumption can aid in weight loss and can address issues that lead to weight gain, it will only be effective if it is combined with a diet and exercise plan. CBD can make it easier to choose healthy foods and maintain lifestyle changes that will help you to reach a healthy weight.

Before using CBD for weight loss, you’ll want to schedule an appointment with your doctor so that you can discuss CBD usage. Even though CBD has very few side effects, it can interact with medications. Your doctor will be able to provide you with advice and can inform you of any interactions ahead of time.

It’s also important to select the right types of CBD. CBD products have minimal oversight from the FDA, which means the quality of products vary greatly. Some products contain potentially harmful additives. Other products may not contain much CBD at all, which can make it harder for you to experience the many benefits that CBD can offer.

In addition to choosing a quality product, you’ll want to consider the best delivery method. The bioavailability of CBD products can vary. Some types of products are able to provide faster results, and certain deliver methods allow your body to absorb more CBD.

What Are the Best CBD Products for Weight Loss?

Full-spectrum or broad-spectrum products will be more effective for weight loss than other options. Seek out products that have been tested by a third party so that you can confirm that they meet certain quality standards. Read the label carefully and pay attention to the ingredients that products contain.

In most cases, CBD oil will be the best option for anyone that’s hoping to use CBD to lose weight. With an oil, it’s easy to adjust dosage as your weight changes. It also has a higher bioavailability than many other delivery methods, which means you’ll experience more potent benefits.

Products that contain beneficial compounds, such as phytocannabinoids and terpenes, are likely to be very effective. If you’re hoping to manage a specific symptom, like insomnia, you may want to seek out a product that is formulated to treat that symptom. If you’re put off by the taste of CBD, you may want to look for a product that comes in a variety of appealing flavors.

You should also try to learn more about how the products are extracted and where they are sourced from. While researching and comparing different CBD products can take time, you’ll be able to continue to use the same product once you find something that works for you.

How Can You Find the Right Dosage?

Dosage also plays an important role in CBD & weight loss. A dosage that is too high can lead to adverse side effects, while a dosage that is too low may not have much of an effect on you. If you’re new to CBD, it’s best to start with a lower dosage and make adjustments over time.

Typically, people calculate CBD dosage based on their weight. If CBD helps you to lose weight, you may actually need to lower your dosage. You’ll also want to consider other factors, such as the potency of the oil you’re using, when determining dosage.

While there are many adults that want to lose weight, the process of weight loss isn’t always an easy one. Although nearly 50% of adults try to lose weight in the average year, most of these attempts aren’t successful. Studies show that long-term weight loss management is a difficult process that requires lifestyle changes. (6)

Not only does research suggest that CBD can aid in weight loss, but studies also show that CBD can treat many symptoms that lead to weight gain. Taking CBD can reduce stress and anxiety and can prevent insomnia, allowing you to make healthy food choices and get the exercise you need throughout the day.

Experts are still learning more about CBD & weight loss, but it’s clear that CBD products have the potential to benefit anyone who wants to maintain a healthy weight. If you’re concerned about your weight, or if your diet and exercise attempts haven’t been successful thus far, you should talk to your doctor about CBD. Then, we invite you to explore our range of full spectrum CBD supplements.