If you want to know if cocaine makes you lose weight, chances are you’re feeling pressure to drop pounds quickly. This could be because you’re unhappy with your exercise results or diet changes and are tired of the stigma toward weight and body types. Unfortunately, once someone is desperate and out of ideas, they can turn to unhealthy weight loss strategies, including diet pills, laxatives, skipping meals, purging, and even drug abuse.
In this article, we’ll discuss whether cocaine causes weight loss, why it’s harmful, and healthy weight loss methods and the mindsets that encourage them.
Does Cocaine Make You Lose Weight?
Yes, cocaine’s appetite-suppressing effects and impact on the body’s response to fat intake and storage can cause temporary weight loss. Interestingly, one study reported that cocaine users were not using cocaine for weight loss or appetite suppression, stating their reasons were based on socializing or daily motivation.
- Even if it’s not their intention, studies found that 86% of cocaine-dependent individuals skipped breakfast more often than non-dependent people.
- Cocaine users are more likely to smoke tobacco (another stimulant drug), which directly increases metabolic rate, decreases metabolic efficiency, and decreases caloric absorption.
- It’s common for people who abuse cocaine to have less control over compulsive personality traits, such as food intake and dietary restraints.
- Cocaine users have a higher appetite for carbohydrates and fatty food but have lower fat mass. In contrast, cannabis’s appetite-stimulating effects does lead to weight gain.
- Cocaine users also had lower levels of leptin, a protein hormone that regulates energy expenditure and appetite.
But cocaine weight loss isn’t sustainable, and when someone reduces or completely stops cocaine use, the body goes through an excessive overeating period to compensate for missing nutrients, leading to weight gain. Once the body adjusts to life without cocaine, lower leptin levels and a higher fat diet will lead to weight gain.
Read more: Is Alcohol A Narcotic & How It Compares To Other Drugs
Why It’s Not Healthy Weight Loss
Losing weight from cocaine is not healthy nor sustainable, and increased energy levels and appetite suppression aren’t the only side effects of cocaine use.
- Stress on the cardiovascular system: Cocaine use and weight loss induce stress on the cardiovascular system, which transports nutrients and oxygen-rich blood to every part of the body. Disrupting this system can lead to heart attacks, arrhythmia, high blood pressure, and long-term conditions such as coronary heart disease, cerebrovascular disease, and rheumatic heart disease.
- Nutritional deficiencies: Rapid weight loss and unhealthy diets can lead to a severe drop in essential nutrients, including iron, vitamin B, zinc, and other micronutrients. This can weaken the body’s immune system, inhibit proper organ function, and lead to visual symptoms such as hair loss, pale skin, and eye problems.
- Weakened immune system: A weakened immune system from nutritional deficiency and cocaine use can lead to more colds, the flu, and slower healing after infections, cuts, or bruises.
- Muscle loss: Cocaine weight loss doesn’t just target unwanted fat. It goes after muscle and can weaken the body, reduce strength and endurance, and increase the risk of injuries. If you have a physically demanding career, cocaine abuse can affect your ability to perform your job.
- Electrolyte imbalance: Rapid weight loss can disrupt the body’s ability to regulate vital electrolytes, including sodium, potassium, and magnesium. This can lead to cramps, dizziness, constant headaches, constipation, and excessive urination.
- Gallbladder issues: 12% to 25% of people who lose large amounts of weight over several months (months of cocaine abuse) can lead to extremely painful gallstones.
- Menstrual irregularities: Cocaine use and rapid weight loss can trick the body into believing it’s being hormonally starved, which can impact the menstrual cycle and lead to painful and irregular periods.
- Impacted mental health: It’s common for cocaine users to experience higher levels of anxiety, depression, agitation, and paranoia. However, additional weight loss can worsen these side effects and can lead to body dysmorphia, eating disorders, and possibly anorexia nervosa.
- Addiction: Cocaine is a highly addictive stimulant, and its effects on the brain can lead to mental and emotional dependency. The body can also build a tolerance to its effects, forcing users to consume more cocaine or switch to stronger substances, such as crack cocaine or methamphetamine. If cocaine dependency develops, the body can suffer from uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms, including depression, fatigue, anhedonia (lack of interest), and anxiety.
Healthy Ways To Lose Weight
Weight loss regiments aren’t a one-size-fits-all scenario, and most of the time, it takes some trial and error before you find something that’s realistic, manageable, and effective. Here are four strategies recommended by the top medical institutions, including the Mayo Clinic.
- Make sure you’re mentally prepared: Chances are you looked into cocaine weight loss for a quick and easy solution. However, weight loss and exercise is a long-term commitment and involves permanent changes to your diet and habits. First, ask yourself if you need to lose weight. Are you comparing yourself to models or Hollywood actors with the “ideal” body type? Talk to your doctor or a licensed dietician and ask if you’re at a healthy weight. In most cases, body type doesn’t reflect a person’s overall health.
- Set realistic goals: Cocaine isn’t a sustainable way to lose weight, and changing your diet and habits requires realistic goals. Don’t expect yourself to see results after working out for a month. After one month of consistent exercise, you’ll personally start to feel better. After two months, you’ll start to notice physical changes. After three months, other people will begin to notice physical changes.
- Start buying, cooking, and eating healthier foods: Exercising without changing unhealthy habits won’t result in any changes. However, decreasing your calorie intake doesn’t mean you have to give up tasty foods. One way you can improve your diet is by eating more plant-based foods, including fruits, vegetables, grains, nuts, and legumes.
- Stay active: Regular exercise can help burn off the calories you can’t cut through diet alone. It also boosts your mood, strengthens your cardiovascular system, lowers blood pressure, and other positive improvements that are the exact opposite of cocaine-induced weight loss. One of the best ways to lose body fat is through aerobic exercise, which includes brisk walking for those who hate running. Any extra movement added to your daily routine helps.
Cocaine Abuse Treatment At Oasis River Recovery
If you or someone you know is using cocaine to lose weight, contact Oasis River Recovery. Our cocaine addiction treatment program is the perfect place to overcome debilitating substance use disorders and co-occurring mental health disorders. As a treatment center founded by members of the recovery community, we created a program that focuses on the reasons that led to drug abuse, covering every human aspect, including trauma, stigma, social pressures, and personal security. Call today, and one of our admissions agents can help you or a loved one sign up.