Cannabis: a self-medication drug for weight management? The never ending story.

Bersani FS., Santacroce R., Coviello M., Imperatori C., Francesconi M., Vicinanza R., Minichino A., Corazza O.

In a society highly focused on physical appearance, people are increasingly using the so-called performance and image-enhancing drugs (PIEDs) or life-style drugs as an easy way to control weight. Preliminary data from online sources (e.g. websites, drug forums, e-newsletters) suggest an increased use of cannabis amongst the general population as a PIED due to its putative weight-loss properties. The use of cannabis and/or cannabis-related products to lose weight may represent a new substance-use trend that should be carefully monitored and adequately investigated, especially in light of the well-known adverse psychiatric and somatic effects of cannabis, its possible interaction with other medications/drugs and the unknown and potentially dangerous composition of synthetic cannabimimetics preparations.

DOI

10.1002/dta.1891

Type

Journal article

Publication Date

2016-02-01T00:00:00+00:00

Volume

8

Pages

177 - 179

Total pages

2

Keywords

cannabis, image-enhancing drugs, weight loss, Anti-Obesity Agents, Body Image, Cannabinoids, Cannabis, Humans, Illicit Drugs, Marijuana Abuse, Self Medication, Weight Loss

Permalink More information Close