Medical cannabis treatments for eating disorders

Eating disorders are serious mental health conditions associated with severe, chronic behaviours and distressing thoughts surrounding the use of food. Prescribed medical cannabis may help patients to alleviate certain psychological symptoms associated with eating disorders, including disrupted sleep or anxiety.

What are eating disorders?  

Eating disorders are a type of mental health condition where having control of the food you eat, how you eat, and how you maintain your body image often becomes a coping mechanism for managing difficult emotions. 

Having an eating disorder can present itself in many ways and, according to Beat, the UK’s eating disorder charity, can affect anyone of any age, gender, or background. 

They can also impact your life in different ways, as each specific type of eating disorder is associated with its own set of symptoms. 

One crucial thing to always remember when talking about eating disorders is that it’s never your fault and you’re not alone. 

Living with an eating disorder is not a lifestyle choice; it’s a common problem that impacts a lot of people across the globe. 

Research into the treatments and management is continuously ongoing, and there is plenty of support available from places like Beat and the NHS to help manage your symptoms and day-to-day life.

Who do eating disorders most often affect in the UK?

Eating disorders are estimated to impact at least 1.25 million people in the UK alone, with women typically more commonly diagnosed than men. 

However, recent statistics show that this gender difference is a lot smaller than it used to be a few years back. 

In fact, between the years 2015/16 and 2020/21, there was a 128% increase seen in the number of hospital admissions for boys and young men.

While eating disorders can appear at any age, they do tend to have a higher risk of developing in adolescents and young adults. 

In Western countries like the UK, for instance, up to 18% of young females are estimated to have experienced an eating disorder by early adulthood, compared to 2.4% of young boys. 

Which eating disorders does this page cover?

There are different types of eating disorders, and this page is designed to act as an umbrella guide for the five most commonly diagnosed in the UK. 

Because each condition sits on a spectrum, there tends to be a bit of overlap between them all. This means that you may shift from one diagnosis to another, depending on how your symptoms progress or change over time. 

Anorexia nervosa

Anorexia nervosa is more commonly known as anorexia, and refers to an eating disorder where patients often have a distorted body image of themselves. Because of this, patients with anorexia will try to keep their weight as low as possible, often by not eating enough food, exercising too much, taking laxatives, or making themselves sick. 

Bulimia nervosa

Bulimia is an eating disorder characterised by two main symptoms: binge eating and purging. It typically involves episodes of losing control of how much you’ve eaten before making yourself sick or taking laxatives to remove this extra food from your body. 

Binge eating disorder (BED)

Binge eating disorder involves eating a large quantity of food over a short period of time until you feel uncomfortably full, due to a feeling of not being able to stop. These binges may be planned, performed on your own, or spontaneous based on how you feel. Living with the condition often leads to feelings of guilt and shame.

Avoidant restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID)

Avoidant restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID) involves avoiding eating certain foods or types of foods to the point where it affects your physical and mental health. It’s much more than simply being a picky eater. It’s characterised by limiting food intake, but it isn’t related to issues around body shape or weight.

Other specified feeding or eating disorder (OSFED)

Sometimes a patient’s symptoms don’t meet the categories set for other eating disorders, like anorexia or bulimia. In these situations, they’re diagnosed as Other specified feeding or eating disorder (OSFED), which is actually the most common form of eating disorder diagnosis, as it acts as an umbrella term for several related conditions.

What treatments are currently available for eating disorders?

Living with an eating disorder can have a huge impact on your day-to-day life, impacting everything from your relationships with friends and family to your ability to concentrate at work or school. 

Treating eating disorders normally involves a combination of monitoring physical health and supporting your mental health needs, including any anxiety you might feel over your body image, the food you eat, or your overall weight. 

Finding the right approach for your needs will depend on the symptoms and feelings you’re experiencing, and will normally be led by a specialist eating disorder service. 

Some of the most common treatments typically offered to patients with eating disorders include: 

Let’s be clear: medical cannabis prescriptions are not a standard treatment for eating disorders, and they should never replace the advice or treatment plan set by your specialist. 

That said, they do help some eligible patients, as you can read about yourself on our dedicated patient stories page.

Does medical cannabis fit alongside specialist eating disorder care?

It’s important to be up-front: medical cannabis should not be treated as a direct replacement treatment for an eating disorder. 

Where it may offer value is as a supportive treatment to take alongside other conventional treatment options. But it can affect everyone differently, so it may not work for everyone. 

For eligible patients who do see an effect from having a prescription, medical cannabis may help to ease symptoms that often develop alongside the condition, especially in terms of mental health. 

With research showing that anxiety and depression affect up to 62% and 54% of people with eating disorders, respectively, medical cannabis may help to alleviate these symptoms in certain patients. 

How does the endocannabinoid system relate to eating disorders?

The endocannabinoid system (ECS) is a complex cell-signalling system contained in each of our bodies that helps us control everything from our mood to our stress response. 

Importantly, it’s also heavily involved in regulating our appetite and sleep, which is why it’s so relevant to people with eating disorders. 

The system works through two main receptors: 

• CB1 receptors are found mostly in the brain and nervous system, including the hypothalamus, the region that helps to control hunger and fullness

• CB2 receptors are linked largely to the immune system and inflammation

Both of these receptors respond to the cannabinoids contained in medical cannabis, like tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD). THC typically interacts with CB1 receptors and offers a “high”, psychoactive effect, whereas CBD is better known for its anti-inflammatory properties. 

Researchers are currently interested in the role the ECS may play in eating disorders, and how treatments could utilise cannabinoids to relieve symptoms. A 2020 review of evidence stated that there is a “...clear link between the ENS [endocannabinoid system] and eating behaviours.”

Research is still at a very early stage, though, so further studies are needed to fully understand that relationship. 

What does the research say about cannabis and eating disorders?

Research into the potential relationship between medical cannabis and eating disorders is still in the early stages of development, with no large clinical trials currently available. 

Most of what we know so far has come from pre-clinical studies, or research that has focused on the symptoms that eating disorders may cause, such as anxiety, appetite, and sleep. 

Here's a brief overview of some of the most relevant recent research:

 

How does THC interact with appetite and the hypothalamus?

Research is still ongoing into how exactly the THC found in medical cannabis stimulates the appetite. A 2023 study published in Nature explored the effect of vaporised cannabis on rodents. The rodents increased their food-seeking behaviour, but were otherwise unimpaired. The hypothesis from this research is that THC’s interaction with CB1 receptors activates Agouti Related Peptide (AgRP) neurons, associated with hunger, within the mediobasal hypothalamus. These neurons spark the appetite, prompting a desire to eat.

How does CBD interact with anxiety in eating disorder recovery?

Anxiety is often linked to eating disorders, with one non-profit organisation stating that 81% of people with bulimia nervosa also struggle with anxiety. CBD may offer some patients relief from the symptoms of anxiety. A pre-clinical study on the application of CBD for anxiety from 2015 states that the cannabinoid shows promise for treating generalised anxiety, social anxiety, and even PTSD symptoms. 

What forms of Releaf medical cannabis can be prescribed for eating disorders?

If you’re eligible for medical cannabis for eating disorders, your Releaf clinician may prescribe your medication in the following formats:

• THC vapes

• Oils

• Pastilles

• Capsules

• Dried flower, for use in vaporisers

If you have a particular preference or concern, your clinician will take that into consideration. For example, some people with eating disorders may struggle to chew pastilles or swallow capsules. A vaporiser could represent a gentler way to administer the medication in these instances. 

Am I eligible for UK medical cannabis treatment if I have an eating disorder?

There are several conditions medical cannabis can be prescribed for legally in the UK, including some of the symptoms associated with eating disorders. Anxiety, depression, and sleep disturbances are all aspects of your condition that you can discuss with a Releaf clinician to find out if medical cannabis could help.  

Releaf is the most trusted UK medical cannabis clinic, with a world-class clinical team that includes over 50 specialists in a range of conditions, including doctors with muscular dystrophy experience.

Have a look at how Releaf pricing works:

• £99 for your initial consultation

• £19.99 per prescription charge plus £4.99 for tracked delivery

• £69.99 for follow-up consultations

Alternatively, you can pay £39.99 per month for Releaf+. Once you’ve paid for your initial consultation, your monthly fee includes your prescription charges and delivery fees, and covers any follow-up consultations. You’ll also receive a discount on your medication costs, and gain access to additional benefits such as legal advice via Releaf Protect.

If you’re ready to join the 240,000+ Releaf community, head to the medical cannabis eligibility checker or contact our team.

FAQs on medical cannabis for eating disorders

Eating disorders are a complex topic, and there’s a lot of information to consider when looking to manage them effectively. With this in mind, here are some questions we’re often asked about eating disorders and medical cannabis.

Can medical cannabis help with the anxiety that drives my eating disorder?

It’s possible. Many studies, some highlighted in this article, show a link between the cannabinoids in medical cannabis and reduced levels of anxiety. Lower levels of anxiety could, potentially, reduce the negative impact of living with an eating disorder.

Do I need to be in active eating disorder treatment to be considered for medical cannabis?

Not necessarily. Fill out the medical cannabis eligibility checker and, if eligible, book a consultation to discuss your condition. You may find that medical cannabis can be prescribed for symptoms you’re experiencing, even if you’re not currently in an active treatment plan. Medical cannabis should not, however, replace any treatment prescribed by your usual doctor.

Does THC affect appetite in eating disorder recovery?

Some evidence suggests that THC’s interaction with CB1 receptors in the ECS could have an effect on the hypothalamus that stimulates the appetite. Everyone reacts slightly differently to medications, though, so this effect may be more pronounced in some patients than others.  

Where can I get support for my eating disorder in the UK?

You may find additional support for eating disorders from the following UK-based organisations:

• Beat Eating Disorders, previously the Eating Disorders Association

• Mind, a UK charity supporting a range of mental health conditions

• First Steps ED, an award-winning eating disorder charity
  

Releaf - let's rethink healthcare