Cannabis use linked to binge eating among young adult women, new research finds

Young women who use cannabis may be more likely to engage in binge eating, according to a new study published in the Journal of Psychiatric Research. Researchers found that among emerging adults, cannabis use was associated with higher rates of binge eating in women but not in men, even after accounting for depressive symptoms.

Cannabis is one of the most commonly used psychoactive substances in the world, and its use has risen sharply, especially among young adults. In the United States, about one in three individuals aged 18 to 25 report using cannabis in the past year. At the same time, binge eating—characterized by consuming large quantities of food while feeling a loss of control—is a growing public health concern, often tied to emotional distress and mental health challenges. Prior studies have suggested that cannabis use and binge eating may be linked, but large-scale research focusing on young adults has been limited.

The researchers set out to investigate whether cannabis use was associated with binge eating behaviors among emerging adults, and whether this connection was influenced by depressive symptoms. They were particularly interested in examining whether these patterns differed between men and women, given previous evidence that women may be more sensitive to the effects of cannabis and are more likely to experience disordered eating.

The study used data from 1,568 emerging adults, with an average age of 22, who participated in the Eating and Activity over Time (EAT) 2010–2018 study. Participants completed surveys between 2017 and 2018 that assessed their cannabis use, binge eating behaviors, depressive symptoms, alcohol use, body mass index, and demographic characteristics such as age, race, and socioeconomic status. The researchers analyzed the data separately for men and women to identify potential gender differences.

Cannabis use was fairly common in the sample: 33% of men and 27% of women reported using cannabis at least once in the past year. When it came to binge eating, the researchers found striking differences between cannabis users and non-users among women. About 24% of female cannabis users reported binge eating in the past year, compared to only 13% of female non-users. Among men, binge eating rates were lower overall and did not differ significantly between cannabis users and non-users.

Even after adjusting for factors like depressive symptoms, body mass index, alcohol use, and demographics, the association between cannabis use and binge eating remained strong among women. In contrast, no significant relationship was found among men after these adjustments. This suggests that cannabis use may be linked to binge eating in women independent of depressive symptoms, highlighting a potential direct connection between the two behaviors.

The findings add to a growing body of research suggesting that the effects of cannabis use may differ between men and women. One possible explanation for the link is that cannabis can alter appetite and increase cravings for high-calorie foods. This phenomenon, often referred to as “the munchies,” is well documented. Cannabis use has been shown to heighten the sensory appeal of food, making eating more pleasurable and potentially encouraging overeating or binge eating behaviors. Women, who already face higher rates of disordered eating and greater societal pressures regarding body image, may be particularly vulnerable to these effects.

Psychological factors may also play a role. Both cannabis use and binge eating are sometimes used as coping mechanisms for managing negative emotions such as sadness, anxiety, or stress. Women with higher emotional sensitivity may be more likely to use cannabis or food to temporarily escape distressing feelings. However, while depressive symptoms were associated with both behaviors in this study, the link between cannabis use and binge eating in women persisted even after accounting for depression, suggesting that other mechanisms may be at play.

The study has some limitations. Because the data were collected at a single point in time, it is not possible to determine the direction of the relationship between cannabis use and binge eating. It is unclear whether cannabis use leads to binge eating, whether individuals who binge eat are more likely to use cannabis, or whether both behaviors share common underlying causes. Longitudinal studies that track changes over time would be necessary to untangle these possibilities.

Another limitation is that cannabis use was measured in a relatively broad way, without differentiating between frequency, quantity, or method of consumption. Future research could explore whether heavier or more frequent cannabis use carries a greater risk for binge eating. It would also be valuable to examine whether different types of cannabis products, such as those higher in tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) versus cannabidiol (CBD), have different impacts on eating behavior.

The researchers suggest that their findings could have important clinical implications. As cannabis legalization continues to expand, understanding how cannabis use may interact with mental health and eating behaviors is essential. Clinicians working with young women who use cannabis might want to assess for binge eating behaviors, and interventions targeting substance use or disordered eating could benefit from addressing both issues together.

The study, “Cannabis use and binge eating among young adults: The role of depressive symptoms,” was authored by Roni Elran-Barak, Sharon Sznitman, Marla E. Eisenberg, Lydia Zhang, Melanie M. Wall, and Dianne Neumark-Sztainer.