“I’ve been coming to OmBaked for a while now. Are your products helping me lose weight?”
The other day a repeat customer (Todd) came into OmBaked to restock his favorite products. While I was ringing him up, I mentioned that Todd looked liked he had shed some weight since I had first met him. Todd said that he had lost some weight!
“Nice!!! How’d you do it?” I asked.
What Todd said to me blew me away! He said that he had not changed his diet deliberately but that he was not eating as much as he used to and that he was generally less hungry & more happy!
Jokingly, he said he was telling people that OmBaked’s products were helping him lose weight! Then he asked me if I knew anything about CBD and weight loss. I didn’t, but I promised to research it and get back to him.
My research led me to some interesting findings. There is nothing conclusive, but the literature out there is encouraging. I was particularly taken by this article I found on the NIH website: Effects of Cannabidiol on Appetite and Body Weight: A Systematic Review; Pinto JS, Martel F.*
The gist of it is that the authors reviewed a bunch of (that’s a technical scientific term, fyi) studies on CBD. In the Conclusions, the authors say:
"This systematic review suggests that cannabidiol has an anorexigenic effect, correlated with a decrease in body weight.
However, most of the studies included in the present review raised some concerns in terms of risk of bias. We believe further research is needed in order to clarify potential mechanisms involved in the effect of cannabidiol on feeding/appetite."
They go on to say:
"In light of the available evidence, CBD appears to have an anorexigenic effect (emphasis added) that may be more substantial in individuals with a higher BMI. Cannabinoids are known to have an orexigenic effect mediated by CB1 and CB2 receptors, but distinctly from Δ9-THC, which possesses an orexigenic effect, CBD appears to decrease food intake (emphasis added)."
So, while there is no conclusive evidence that CBD decreases appetite or contributes to weight loss, it is something that is of interest to the scientific community. Hopefully, there will be more studies on this topic.
Anecdotally, I find that when I regularly have 25-35mg of CBD a day (that’s one gummy or a seltzer), I don’t feel like having any alcohol at all. Maybe it’s because that amount of CBD helps me relax and I don’t need a drink in the evening to help me unwind. Whatever the reason, not having cocktails or wine in the evening easily saves me 300 empty calories (that’s a 60-minute walk). So, maybe not having those calories is helping me shed some unneeded weight easily.
Another interesting benefit I have noticed is how I feel in the mornings. Like most people of a certain age, when I have a drink in the evening, the next morning I feel sluggish. Even a brisk morning swim does not shake off the heaviness I feel. On the other hand, when I am alcohol-free, I wake up bright-eyed and bushy-tailed and ready to have a fabulous day!
So, do OmBaked’s products help with weight loss?
The jury is most definitely out, but I am enjoying my new stress-reduced life!
And Todd is enjoying his!
*Pinto JS, Martel F. Effects of Cannabidiol on Appetite and Body Weight: A Systematic Review. Clin Drug Investig. 2022 Nov;42(11):909-919. doi: 10.1007/s40261-022-01205-y. Epub 2022 Oct 1. PMID: 36180814; PMCID: PMC9525229.
CBD products are not for use by or sale to persons under the age of 21. CBD products should only be consumed as directed on the label and should not be used if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. Consult with a health professional prior to using CBD in combination with any medications or other dietary supplements. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA.