Cocaine And Weight Loss: Does Cocaine Make You Lose Weight?

To understand the connection between cocaine and weight loss, it’s important to understand what cocaine does to the body and mind.

Cocaine releases a wave of dopamine and other neurotransmitters inside the central nervous system (CNS) but also prevents the reuptake process of norepinephrine.

This neurotransmitter regulates the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) which in turn regulates heartbeat, blood pressure, and your overall ‘fight or flight’ response.

The connection between cocaine addiction and weight is that drug abuse of stimulant drugs such as cocaine can make you feel less hungry, leading you to eat less.

This is why one of the physical side effects of cocaine drug use is weight loss — the less food you eat, the fewer calories you intake, which results in lower overall body weight.

Why Cocaine Use May Cause Weight Loss

Cocaine use can cause weight loss in several ways. First, cocaine suppresses appetite, so people who use the drug may not eat as much as they otherwise would.

Second, cocaine increases metabolism, which can lead to weight loss. Finally, cocaine use can lead to dehydration, which can also cause weight loss.

Change In Eating Habits

Changes in eating habits are common side effects of cocaine use. People who use cocaine have a higher chance of developing different eating habits, such as eating less often.

The flipside of this problem is that cocaine inhibits the body’s ability to process fatty foods effectively, meaning that body fat is unhealthily retained.

Once the effects of cocaine that result in appetite suppression have worn off, some people rebound by overeating, developing health problems and gaining weight due to excess fat intake.

This increases the chance of developing eating disorders such as anorexia and bulimia.

Cocaine’s Effect On Metabolism

The use of cocaine can result in unexpected short-term and long-term changes in the metabolism, as well as its speed.

Cocaine speeds up the body’s metabolism, which can lead to a number of side effects including weight loss, increased energy levels, and increased body temperature.

Additionally, cocaine can affect the metabolism indirectly by the change of eating habits, from minimal to excessive food intake, to irregular eating times, and more.

The Effect Of Cocaine Use On Fat Storage

Cocaine is a powerful stimulant that can have many adverse effects on the human body, including increased fat storage.

Cocaine use can lead to increased appetite and cravings for fatty foods, which can lead to weight gain.

In addition, cocaine can increase the body’s stress levels, which can also lead to increased fat storage.

The use of this drug can also cause the body to store more fat in the abdominal area, which can lead to health problems such as heart disease and diabetes.

Is Cocaine Used As A ‘Skinny Drug’?

Cocaine is often used as a ‘skinny drug’ by people who want to lose weight.

However, this practice is dangerous, as it is highly addictive and can have serious side effects, including heart attack and stroke.

What Effect Does Cocaine Use Have On People With Eating Disorders?

People who use cocaine regularly, and also have eating disorders (ED), could see the adverse side effects of their eating disorders significantly exacerbated by its appetite-suppressing effects.

Anorexia, for example, is defined as a loss of appetite for food.

When anorexia is combined with cocaine use, this can lead to further eating irregularities and other health issues, since it makes the problem worse.

Can Cocaine Make You Gain Weight?

Once cocaine use is stopped, people who are used to the appetite-suppressing effects of cocaine can significantly rebound in the other direction as their appetites return, resulting in weight gain.

Cocaine can also cause changes in metabolism, resulting in the body storing more fat.

In addition, cocaine use can lead to dehydration, which can cause the body to retain water and lead to weight gain.

Addiction Treatment Programs For Cocaine Abuse

Fortunately, there are a number of treatment options for cocaine abuse and other substance use disorders (SUD).

Common treatment methods for cocaine abuse include:

• detox from opioids, alcohol, cocaine, and other substances
• inpatient and outpatient treatment programs
• individual and group therapy
• evidence-based treatment programs
• residential rehab programs

Find A Substance Abuse Treatment Center Today

If you or a loved one is searching for a treatment facility to help you overcome a substance use disorder (SUD), give our free helpline a call today to find a rehab center near you.