America is facing economic malaise, overcrowded prisons, and an ever increasing obesity problem. Things might not just seem a little bit bitter if we all chilled out and got high, they might actually get better. Yes, even on the fat front. A new study has found that pot smokers are less likely to be obese than those who refrain from marijuana.
Obviously, you'd think all those late night munchies -- cheese balls, Funyuns, regrettable runs to Checkers and all -- would make tokers bigger porkers. Researchers at the Louis-Mourier Hospital in Colombes, France thought so too. In fact, they were so surprised to find that potheads were less likely to have potbellies they had to double check their study.
"We found that cannabis users are less likely to be obese than non-users," Dr. Yann Le Strat, a psychiatrist and co-author of the study told MSNBC. "We were so surprised, we thought we had [made] a mistake."
The study used data from two surveys on weight and pot use from U.S. adults. In the two surveys non-smokers had obesity rates of 22 percent and 25.3 percent. People who got high regularly however had obesity rates of 14.3 percent and 17.2 percent in the surveys.
However, no one is quite sure exactly why marijuana users are less likely to be chubsters. Some theorize it could be because they eat more fruits and vegetables or are outside more.
Though, there's even some suggestion that one of the compounds in marijuana may actually help stave off obesity.
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