Could cannabis or psychedelics play a role in helping people with eating disorders rebuild a healthy relationship with food? A new international study suggests it’s worth exploring.
In what researchers call the most comprehensive survey of its kind, more than 7,600 people from 83 countries shared their experiences using prescription and non-prescription drugs to manage eating disorders. Cannabis and psychedelics like psilocybin (“magic mushrooms”) and LSD were rated most helpful for improving eating-related symptoms such as food avoidance and appetite suppression.
“Our results provide important insights into the lived experiences of people with eating disorders and their drug use, highlighting promising avenues for future research into treatments,” said lead author Sarah-Catherine Rodan, a PhD student at the University of Sydney’s Lambert Initiative for Cannabinoid Therapeutics. “The findings suggest more research, including large clinical trials, should be undertaken around the beneficial effects of cannabis and psychedelics for people with eating disorders.”
The research, published in JAMA Network Open, was funded by the University of Sydney’s Lambert Initiative for Cannabinoid Therapeutics, with additional support from Australia’s National Health and Medical Research Council. The authors disclosed that the funders had no role in the study design, analysis or publication decisions. Several researchers reported consulting fees or affiliations with companies in the medicinal cannabis and therapeutics industries, which were disclosed in the study.
Survey participants represented a wide range of conditions, including anorexia nervosa (40%), bulimia nervosa (19%), binge-eating disorder (11%) and avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (9%). Many also reported co-occurring challenges like depression (65%) and anxiety (55%).
What people reported:
Cannabis was highly rated by those with restrictive eating disorders such as anorexia and ARFID, likely because it enhances the rewarding value of food, addressing a core barrier to eating.
Psychedelics, though used less often, were reported to have long-lasting effects on mindset and eating behaviors, supporting growing interest in their role for reshaping habits and perceptions around food.
Prescription antidepressants were described as helpful for mood but less effective for directly improving eating behaviors.
Alcohol, nicotine and cocaine were consistently rated as worsening both eating disorder symptoms and overall well-being.
“This research suggests that cannabis and psychedelics hold significant promise for improving quality of life in individuals suffering eating disorders,” said senior author Professor Iain McGregor, Academic Director of the Lambert Initiative. “Of course, rigorous clinical trials are needed to confirm these benefits and better determine safety profiles.”
Those trials are already underway: the Lambert Initiative is preparing to test psilocybin for anorexia nervosa and is completing a pilot study on cannabidiol (CBD) for severe anorexia in young people.