Cannabis is one of the most widely used psychoactive substances globally, with particularly high usage rates among young adults. Previous research indicates that cannabis use is strongly associated with depressive symptoms and binge eating behaviors. Acute cannabis use has been shown to enhance appetite and intensify the sensory and hedonic properties of food, which has been proposed as a factor explaining its link to binge eating. Notably, women may exhibit heightened sensitivity to the acute effects of cannabis, which could serve as a key factor driving the strong association between cannabis use and binge eating behaviors. This study aims to analyze the relationship between cannabis use and binge eating behaviors across genders, investigate whether cannabis use influences binge eating beyond the impact of depressive symptoms, and identify the underlying mechanisms of this relationship.
The study utilized data from 1,568 participants in the EAT 2010-2018 cohort, a longitudinal study on eating and activity behaviors. Data were collected through self-reported surveys conducted in 2017-2018, which assessed cannabis use, binge eating behaviors, depressive symptoms, BMI, alcohol use, and sociodemographic factors. Cannabis use was categorized based on any use within the past year, while binge eating was identified through validated questions regarding episodes of overeating accompanied by a perceived loss of control. Depressive symptoms were measured using the Kandel and Davies Depressive Mood Scale. The collected data were analyzed using gender-stratified logistic regression models to evaluate the association between cannabis use and binge eating behaviors.
According to the findings, 33% of males and 27% of females reported cannabis use in the past year. Among females, 24% of cannabis users exhibited binge eating behaviors, significantly higher than 13% among non-users (p<0.001), while no significant differences were observed in males. The association between cannabis use and binge eating remained significant among females after adjusting for confounding variables such as age, socioeconomic status, alcohol use, BMI, and race/ethnicity, but no such association was found in males. Depressive symptoms were independently associated with binge eating in both genders, with the highest prevalence observed among individuals with severe depressive symptoms. Notably, in females, the association between cannabis use and binge eating persisted regardless of depressive symptom severity, suggesting a potential direct effect of cannabis use on binge eating behaviors. These findings highlight the gender-specific nature of the association and the need for gender-tailored interventions and further exploration of underlying pathways.
Takeaway: Cannabis use is associated with binge eating behaviors among females, independent of depressive symptoms, suggesting the importance of exploring gender-specific mechanisms and interventions.