title: Cannabis: a self-medication drug for weight management? The never ending story.
abstract: In a society highly focused on physical appearance, people are increasingly using the so-called performance and image-enhancing drugs (PIEDs) or life-style drugs as an easy way to control weight. Preliminary data from online sources (e.g. websites, drug forums, e-newsletters) suggest an increased use of cannabis amongst the general population as a PIED due to its putative weight-loss properties. The use of cannabis and/or cannabis-related products to lose weight may represent a new substance-use trend that should be carefully monitored and adequately investigated, especially in light of the well-known adverse psychiatric and somatic effects of cannabis, its possible interaction with other medications/drugs and the unknown and potentially dangerous composition of synthetic cannabimimetics preparations.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology and Psychiatry, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.|School of Life and Medical Sciences, University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield, UK.
authors.forename: Francesco Saverio
authors.initials: FS
authors.lastname: Bersani
authors.affiliation: School of Life and Medical Sciences, University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield, UK.|Department of Neuroscience and Imaging, Gabriele D'Annunzio University, Chieti, Italy.
authors.forename: Rita
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Santacroce
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology and Psychiatry, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Marialuce
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Coviello
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Sciences, Università Europea, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Imperatori
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology and Psychiatry, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Francesconi
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular, Respiratory, Nephrologic and Geriatric Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Vicinanza
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology and Psychiatry, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Amedeo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Minichino
authors.affiliation: School of Life and Medical Sciences, University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield, UK.
authors.forename: Ornella
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Corazza
mesh_terms: D019440:Anti-Obesity Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D001828:Body Image; D002186:Cannabinoids / Q000032:analysis / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002188:Cannabis / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D013287:Illicit Drugs; D002189:Marijuana Abuse; D012651:Self Medication; D015431:Weight Loss / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D019440:Anti-Obesity Agents; D002186:Cannabinoids; D013287:Illicit Drugs
keywords: cannabis; image-enhancing drugs; weight loss