Cannabis may help alleviate symptoms of some eating disorders, including anorexia, with a large international survey finding widespread use and perceived benefits among patients.
The Lambert Initiative-funded, University of Sydney study surveyed 5,383 adults in 76 countries who self-reported a diagnosed eating disorder or undiagnosed disordered eating causing significant distress.
Researchers noted there were few effective treatments for these conditions, with data examining recent prescription and non-prescription drug use and the perceived benefits and harms of each.
More than half reported cannabis use in the previous 12 months.
Of 3,018 recent users, 42.1% consumed cannabis daily and almost one quarter used it several times a day. The plant was the third most commonly used drug among respondents, behind caffeine and alcohol.
Published in the Journal of Eating Disorders, it found cannabis received the highest average rating of any drug for improving symptoms among people with avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder, anorexia and other eating disorders.
However, people with binge eating disorder rated cannabis negatively for its effect on symptoms.
Researchers suggested cannabis’ appetite-stimulating properties could help explain the findings, potentially helping normalise eating in people with restrictive or food-averse conditions.
The same effects could be detrimental for people with binge eating disorder and potentially exacerbate binge symptoms.
Analysis of 640 open-ended responses found an improved ability to eat was the most commonly reported benefit, cited in 26.3% of comments.
Respondents also reported improved awareness of hunger cues, reduced eating disorder-related guilt, less nausea and diminished food-related anxiety.
Researchers said findings supported further investigation of cannabinoids as potential treatments, including a placebo-controlled trial of THC for avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder, described as “highly desirable”.
The study examined cannabis use generally rather than prescribed medicinal cannabis.
Among recent users, 46.9% described their consumption as both medicinal and non-medicinal, 44.6% as non-medicinal only and 8.6% as medicinal only.
Flower was the most popular product, used by 88.4% of recent consumers, followed by edibles (51.2%), vapes (20.8%) and cannabis oil (18.5%).