Start Date
23-4-2026 12:00 AM
Description
As many societies move toward the legalization of marijuana the other underlying side effects and symptoms of this drug must be analyzed so that users may be fully informed about the effects of their drug usage. Therefore, this exploratory project looks to evaluate the relationship between the use of marijuana as a recreational drug and binge eating. Throughout the project three main topics have been explored including the adverse outcomes of binge eating and over eating, how cannabis use can play a role in binge eating, and if binge eating can be a contributing factor in initiating the use of marijuana. Throughout this exploration it was found that, women are more likely to experience the relationship between cannabis use and binge eating than men, and cannabis has been found to motivate the initiation of eating and an increased desire to continue eating. Binge eating can also be a predictor of initiating marijuana usage, meaning that people who are already partaking in binge eating practices may be more likely to partake in marijuana consumption.
Research Highlights
The Problem: Researchers are investigating the bidirectional relationship between marijuana usage and binge eating behaviors, specifically looking for gender-based differences in these patterns.
The Method: The study synthesizes findings from young adult populations, college students, and longitudinal adolescent data to evaluate how cannabis-induced appetite changes and eating disorders influence one another.
Quantitative Finding: Individuals with eating disorders are five times more likely to exhibit problematic usage of illicit drugs like marijuana.
Qualitative Finding: Cannabis usage promotes eating through appetite regulation and increased cravings; binge eating and over-eating serve as predictors for the initiation of marijuana use; the correlation between binge eating and marijuana use is present in women but absent in men.
Recommended Citation
Proctor, Hailey, "The Weight of Marijuana: Marijuana as a Gateway to Binge Eating" (2026). 2026 Student Academic Showcase. 34.
https://digitalcommons.lindenwood.edu/src_2026/Posters/1/34
Included in
The Weight of Marijuana: Marijuana as a Gateway to Binge Eating
As many societies move toward the legalization of marijuana the other underlying side effects and symptoms of this drug must be analyzed so that users may be fully informed about the effects of their drug usage. Therefore, this exploratory project looks to evaluate the relationship between the use of marijuana as a recreational drug and binge eating. Throughout the project three main topics have been explored including the adverse outcomes of binge eating and over eating, how cannabis use can play a role in binge eating, and if binge eating can be a contributing factor in initiating the use of marijuana. Throughout this exploration it was found that, women are more likely to experience the relationship between cannabis use and binge eating than men, and cannabis has been found to motivate the initiation of eating and an increased desire to continue eating. Binge eating can also be a predictor of initiating marijuana usage, meaning that people who are already partaking in binge eating practices may be more likely to partake in marijuana consumption.