According to a new study published in the Journal of Psychiatric Research, young women who use cannabis are more likely to engage in binge eating. Notably, the same association was not found among young male cannabis users.
The study authors examined data on over 1,500 young adults between the ages of 18 and 25 who participated in the Eating and Activity Over Time study from 2010 to 2018. In 2017 and 2018, the survey assessed participants’ cannabis use, as well as their binge eating habits, mental health, alcohol use, physical characteristics, and demographics.
One third of men and 27 percent of women surveyed stated they had used cannabis at least once within the past year. Among women who were cannabis users, 24 percent reported binge eating within the past year, compared to 13 percent of women non-users. Even after controlling for other factors, the authors still found a strong association between cannabis use and binge eating. There were no significant differences found between men’s cannabis use and binge eating behaviors.
As cannabis legalization continues to expand throughout the United States, the authors believe their findings highlight a need for further research on the drug’s effect on mental health and behavioral patterns. Future studies could investigate if frequent consumption carries a greater risk for binge eating, or if different cannabis products have different impacts on eating habits.
The study authors included scholars from the University of Haifa School of Public Health in Israel, the University of Minnesota, and Columbia University in New York.