Obesity is less common in pot smokers

[salvorhardin]

Oh wow, talk about your counter-intuitive findings. I wonder which way the arrow of causality is pointing on this one, or if there's a third variable driving both?

‎

The researchers then used survey participants' self-reported smoking habits to reveal that about a quarter of people who didn't smoke pot were obese. By comparison, only 16—17 percent of cannabis users were found to be overweight. In fact, obesity was found to be even less common among people who smoked pot more frequently.
Link: http://io9.com/5837742/obesity-is-less-common-in-pot-smokers

[midnight]

1. Good to know....

[silverweb]

2. Verrry interesting!

There goes my final reason for avoiding the stuff -- other than the legal issue, of course.

I was always afraid I'd succumb to the munchies and end up the size of a barn (not just "pleasingly plump," as my grandmother used to say).

Time to rethink this situation....

[HuckleB]

3. Context.

http://whitecoatunderground.com/2011/09/07/get-stoned-drop-pounds-right/

[Rageneau]

4. Well, I'm not thin yet, but this news encourages me to keep trying.

Gonna smoke myself svelte.

[bemildred]

5. Correlation is not causation.

Another statistical factoid.

[salvorhardin]

6. Who said it was?

I said, "I wonder which way the arrow of causation points" and "or if there's a third variable driving both". It's only two epidemiological studies (albeit run on two very large datasets) so it can only prove correlation, not causation. However, assuming the correlation is valid* it's fine to speculate on what influences A might have on B, B on A or if unknown C (more likely unknowns C, D, E, F, G and H) is influencing both A and B.

*IMHO there are a number of problems with these two studies that make it hard to say whether or not the correlation is valid. However, taken on its own, it's an interesting finding and suggests avenues for further research.

[bemildred]

7. The OP is about a statistical correlation.

It is therefore entirely reasonable to point out that it means essentially nothing in terms of causation, lest somebody start smoking pot in naive hopes of losing weight.

[Confusious]

9. Most people I knew who smoked pot

Were hyperactive. It calmed them down.

[bemildred]

10. Pot, like most "natural" drugs, has many effects, and results depend a lot on dosage.

As well as varietal issues. It can be speedy, it can be slow, it can make you think, it can make you drool.

[bemildred]

8. PS: I don't find the findings counter-intuitive at all. nt

[Jack2632]

11. Was something missing from the study?

This is pretty interesting. I mean, it could be another benefit? I wonder whether there's a real correlation - I didn't notice a statistical significance anywhere in the article - was that left out on purpose?

[HuckleB]

12. This is a good analysis of the study.

http://whitecoatunderground.com/2011/09/07/get-stoned-drop-pounds-right/