Does CBD Help With Weight Loss During the Holidays?

Although there isn't direct human evidence that CBD causes weight loss, early research does suggest that CBD may interact with the endocannabinoid system — the network that helps regulate metabolism, appetite signaling, and energy storage — and may indirectly support the habits that matter most during the holidays, like sleep quality and stress management. The reliable levers for holiday weight are still the boring ones: portion control, eating slowly, staying active, and getting enough sleep. Below, we cover practical tips for the season from Halloween through New Year's, plus an honest look at what the CBD research actually shows.

Whether we’re talking about Thanksgiving, Christmas, or even New Year’s, almost every special day around this time of year seems to be accompanied by copious amounts of food and beverages. After all, what good is a holiday if you can’t enjoy a delicious meal with friends and family?

The problem is, from Halloween to the beginning of January, many of us unfortunately pack on some unwanted pounds. In addition to the holidays themselves, there are ample amounts of tasty treats enticing us to snack constantly. Halloween candy can last well into November—until it’s just about time to start having holiday cookies in the kitchen.

With all the sweets, feasts, family get togethers, and generally busy schedules, how can you help control your weight during the holiday season? We’ve put together a list of tips to help you feel good and maintain your figure this fall and winter—plus, you can add CBD to your daily regimen to potentially give yourself a leg up!

How Can You Avoid Gaining Weight Over the Holidays?

The most effective holiday weight strategies aren't restrictive — they're about portion size, pace, movement, and sleep. Here are six that work without asking you to skip the meal.

• Control your portions – This one is huge. You can enjoy holiday turkey and mash potatoes and anything else, but just keep your portions under control. You don’t have to completely engorge yourself or eat to the point that requires unbuttoning your pants. After all, nothing beats leaving some food for leftovers the next day!
• Eat slowly and listen to your body – One of the best ways to control how much you eat at big meals is to eat slowly. Give your stomach time to send signals to your brain about how full you are. The slower you eat, the less you’ll eat before you feel full. Once you feel full, listen to what your body is telling you and save the rest for leftovers.
• Be active – I know we’re all busy during the holidays, but finding even 15 minutes a day to do some type of physical activity can make all the difference for the end of year weight gain. Take the opportunity after a big meal to walk around the neighborhood with visiting family. You can talk, catch up, and walk off all the delicious food you just ate. If you have days off of work, use some of that extra time to hit the elusive 10,000 steps a day mark.
• Save the treats for specific events – Holiday cookies and other treats are one of the best parts of this time of year. But if you’re trying to control your weight, then having them all around the house can be problematic. Do yourself a favor and put the treats away and out of sight until it’s time for the Christmas party or holiday get together. There will be plenty of time to enjoy them then!
• Get plenty of sleep – A lack of sleep can lead to weight gain. Give yourself a leg up during the holidays by making sure you always get enough sleep to feel energized and ready to be active during the day.
• Eat a lot of protein and fiber – Let’s face it, holiday meals are full of lots of carbs and fatty foods. Do your best to eat high fiber foods, like vegetables, fruits, and nuts, as well as lean protein filled foods, like chicken, fish, and beans. Both will make you feel satisfied and keep you from feeling hungry and having the urge to snack for a longer period of time than high carb foods.

Can CBD Help With Weight Management?

Possibly, but indirectly. Current evidence comes almost entirely from cell and animal studies rather than human trials. Researchers have identified two mechanisms worth watching:

How Does CBD Affect Mitochondrial Activity?

Mitochondria convert food into usable energy, and laboratory research suggests CBD may influence how efficiently they do it.

Think of mitochondria as the power centers in your cells. Essentially, they convert the sugars, fats, and proteins that you consume into energy. CBD is thought to regulate mitochondrial activity to achieve balance, boosting metabolism when necessary and limiting it when necessary.

What Is Fat Browning, and Does CBD Cause It?

Fat browning is the conversion of energy-storing white fat into heat-generating brown fat, and a 2016 cell study found CBD encouraged this shift in mouse fat cells — a result that has not been replicated in humans.

In simple terms, fat browning is the process by which white fat (“bad” fat) is converted into brown fat (“good” fat). White fat is what stores excess energy (usually around your gut hanging over your belt) for situations where we may face starvation. The problem with that is that few of us in western countries will ever face such an extreme lack of calories that we’ll need white fat to survive. So it builds up and messes with our metabolism. Brown fat, on the other hand, generates heat and burns calories, meaning that converting white fat to brown fat can help you shed unneeded and unwanted fat stores. According to this study, published in Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry, CBD may help transform cumbersome white fat to energy producing brown fat.

You Know About CBD and Holiday Weight?

CBD's clearest potential contribution is indirect — supporting sleep, stress, and comfort levels that make it easier to stay active and eat mindfully.

Here are some other Urban Roots articles on those topics below:

• CBD for Sleep
• CBD for Anxiety
• CBD for Stress
• CBD for Pain and Inflammation

Above All Else, Enjoy Yourself during the Holidays!

The most important thing is to not feel bad or stress out during the holidays. This season is for enjoyment and spending quality time with friends and family. Try the tips we discussed above and see if adding CBD to your daily regimen helps you feel better and experience positive results!

Click here to try Urban Roots Hemp Co.’s lab tested, high quality CBD products today!

Frequently Asked Questions About CBD and Holiday Weight

Does CBD increase appetite like THC does?
No, CBD does not produce the appetite stimulation ("the munchies") associated with THC, because it doesn't activate CB1 receptors the same way.

How much weight does the average person gain over the holidays?
Research published in The New England Journal of Medicine found the average holiday weight gain is roughly one pound, though it tends to accumulate year over year.

Can CBD help with holiday stress eating?
Some people use CBD for general stress and sleep support, and both are linked to eating patterns, but no studies have tested CBD specifically for stress eating.

When should you take CBD for sleep during the holidays?
Most people take CBD 30 to 60 minutes before bed, though individual response varies and there's no established dosing standard.