New research published in Nutrition, Metabolism and Cardiovascular Diseases finds that marijuana use is associated with a modestly reduced risk of several metabolic disorders, with the relationship varying significantly depending on body mass index (BMI).
The study was conducted by researchers from Women’s Hospital School of Medicine at Zhejiang University and Taizhou First People’s Hospital, using data from 91,002 participants in the UK Biobank who did not have metabolic disease at the start of the study.
After adjusting for various factors, marijuana use was associated with a 6% lower risk of developing metabolic disease overall. The data also showed a 7% reduction in hypertension risk and an 18% reduction in type 2 diabetes risk among users. The most pronounced finding was among heavy users, who had a 43% lower risk of obesity compared to non-users.
However, the relationship was not consistent across all groups. Researchers found that BMI played a significant role in shaping outcomes. Among individuals with a BMI below 25, marijuana use was more strongly associated with reduced risk across multiple conditions. In contrast, among those with a BMI over 30, moderate marijuana use was linked to a 26% increased risk of metabolic disease and a 40% higher risk of hypertension.
The study did not find any meaningful association between marijuana use and risks for hyperlipidemia or non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.
Researchers say the findings highlight a complex relationship between marijuana use and metabolic health, with potential benefits appearing more pronounced in individuals with lower body weight. They caution that the results are based on observational data, meaning causation cannot be esta
