Abstract
The Cannabis sativa plant has historically been used for both recreational and medical purposes. With the recent surge in recreational use of cannabis among adolescents and adults in particular, there is an increased obligation to determine the short- and long-term effects that consuming this plant may have on several aspects of the human psyche and body. The goal of this article was to examine the negative effects of obesity, and how the use of Δ9-tetrahydrocannibinol (THC) or cannabidiol (CBD) can impact rates of this global pandemic at different timepoints of life. Conflicting studies have been reported between adult and adolescents, as there are reports of THC use leading to increased weight due to elevated appetite and consumption of food, while others observed a decrease in overall body weight due to the regulation of omega-6/omega-3 endocannabinoid precursors and a decrease in energy expenditure. Studies supported a positive correlation between prenatal cannabis use and obesity rates in the children as they matured. The data did not indicate a direct connection between prenatal THC levels in cannabis and obesity rates, but that this development may occur due to prenatal THC consumption leading to low birthweight, and subsequent obesity. There are few studies using animal models that directly measure the effects that prenatal THC administration on obesity risks among offspring. Thus, this is a critical area for future studies using a developmental framework to examine potential changes in risk across development.
Highlights
Cannabis sativa, known commonly as cannabis, is an increasingly popular plant that has been consumed for medicinal purposes for thousands of years, dating back to ancientChina
Activation of the CB1 receptors (CB1Rs) by AEA or 2-AG within the presynaptic terminals has been documented to suppress the release of cholinergic, serotonergic, and noradrenergic neurotransmitters throughout the many different spots within the central nervous system (CNS) [58]. This lack of neurotransmitters can result in the excitatory postsynaptic potentials (EPSPs) of the terminal synapses, either increasing or decreasing depending on the activation of the CB1R, which can result in long-term plasticity, such as long-term potentiation (LTP) and long-term depression (LDP) [59,61]
Certain studies have tested rodent models by administrating CB1 receptor agonists and inducing the animals to perform various memory tasks, including the Morris water maze, novel object recognition, and contextual fear conditioning; these results showed that CB1 receptor agonists attenuated the acquisition of memory, and increased levels of AEA and 2-AG can elicit these same results [63,65–67]
Summary
Known commonly as cannabis, is an increasingly popular plant that has been consumed for medicinal purposes for thousands of years, dating back to ancient. Some phytocannabinoids have attracted increased attention due to the potential therapeutic uses in many diseases that plague our present population. Throughout the years, the perceived dangers of cannabis have continuously decreased among the adult population, leading to certain misconceptions by the public surrounding this drug [3]. Res. Public Health 2022, 19, 3174 older reported cannabis use in the past 30 days; this number increased from 2018, when about 26 million Americans in the same age group reported use within this time period [4]. Use among the youth will only continue to rise [5] These statistics are alarming due to the known effect that THC consumption can have on decreasing the amount of synaptic connections within the developing brain of an adolescent [6]. This review will examine the literature on CBD and the physiological responses associated with obesity risks
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