A Pilot Trial of Nabilone for the Treatment of Obesity
Status:
Not yet recruiting
Trial end date:
2023-05-01
Target enrollment:
Participant gender:
Summary
Obesity is a serious health problem which increases the likelihood of developing other
life-changing medical conditions. Despite increasing knowledge about the neural and metabolic
basis of obesity, the development of effective anti-obesity treatment strategies has been a
challenge. Evidence shows an association between cannabis consumption and body weight.
However, to date, no human trials have assessed the potential of cannabis-like compounds to
reduce body weight in individuals who are obese. This pilot trial aims to determine the
safety and feasibility of administering nabilone (a cannabinoid drug similar to the active
component of cannabis) to patients who are obese. Our secondary aims are to determine if
nabilone is effective in reducing weight in this population, and to probe potential
mechanisms of the weight-loss-promoting effects of nabilone, such as neural reactivity to
food stimuli, changes in gut bacteria, and changes in metabolic biomarkers.