Marijuana Use Linked to Body Image-Related Risk Behaviors in Sexual Minority Men
Sexual minority men who used marijuana had 2-3 times higher odds of engaging in unhealthy weight control behaviors (fasting, vomiting, diet pills) and muscle-enhancing behaviors (steroids, supplements) compared to non-users.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
Marijuana users had significantly greater odds of all seven body image-related risk behaviors, with adjusted odds ratios ranging from 1.88 (fasting) to 3.12 (diet pill use), including vomiting (AOR=2.61), laxative use (AOR=2.23), protein powder (AOR=2.60), and anabolic steroids (AOR=2.62).
Key Numbers
AORs: fasting 1.88, vomiting 2.61, laxatives 2.23, diet pills 3.12, supplements 2.60, protein powder 2.60, steroids 2.62; all p<0.001
How They Did This
Secondary analysis of the Men's Body Project cross-sectional study examining associations between marijuana use and seven weight control/muscle-enhancing behaviors among sexual minority men using logistic regression.
Why This Research Matters
Sexual minority men already face elevated eating disorder risk, and this study reveals that marijuana use — often perceived as harmless — is associated with significantly higher rates of dangerous body image behaviors in this population.
The Bigger Picture
The intersection of cannabis use, body image disorders, and LGBTQ+ health reveals a clustering of risk factors that current substance use and mental health programs may not adequately address together.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Cross-sectional design cannot determine causality; marijuana may be used to cope with existing body image distress; self-report measures; sample composition details limited; no dose-response analysis; potential confounders not fully addressed.
Questions This Raises
- ?Does marijuana use drive body image behaviors or do both stem from shared underlying distress?
- ?Would LGBTQ+-targeted interventions addressing both substance use and body image be more effective?
- ?Does cannabis affect appetite in ways that interact with disordered eating?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- Evidence Grade:
- Cross-sectional analysis from a focused population study provides important associational evidence, but cannot determine whether marijuana drives these behaviors or is a co-occurring coping mechanism.
- Study Age:
- Published 2026; data from the Men's Body Project.
- Original Title:
- Marijuana use and its association with unhealthy weight control and muscle-enhancing behaviors among sexual minority men in the United States: a cross-sectional analysis.
- Published In:
- Journal of cannabis research (2026)
- Authors:
- Ibeh, Chiamaka, Zhao, Yunan(2), Tran, Alvin(2)
- Database ID:
- RTHC-08349
Evidence Hierarchy
A snapshot of a population at one point in time.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
Is marijuana linked to eating disorders?
In sexual minority men, marijuana use was associated with 2-3x higher odds of unhealthy weight control behaviors like fasting, vomiting, and diet pill use — though it's unclear whether marijuana drives these behaviors or both stem from shared distress.
Why focus on sexual minority men specifically?
Sexual minority men already face elevated risk for body dissatisfaction and disordered eating compared to heterosexual men. This study reveals that marijuana use is associated with even higher rates of these behaviors in this already-vulnerable population.
Read More on RethinkTHC
Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-08349APA
Ibeh, Chiamaka; Zhao, Yunan; Tran, Alvin. (2026). Marijuana use and its association with unhealthy weight control and muscle-enhancing behaviors among sexual minority men in the United States: a cross-sectional analysis.. Journal of cannabis research. https://doi.org/10.1186/s42238-026-00398-9
MLA
Ibeh, Chiamaka, et al. "Marijuana use and its association with unhealthy weight control and muscle-enhancing behaviors among sexual minority men in the United States: a cross-sectional analysis.." Journal of cannabis research, 2026. https://doi.org/10.1186/s42238-026-00398-9
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "Marijuana use and its association with unhealthy weight cont..." RTHC-08349. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/ibeh-2026-marijuana-use-and-its
Access the Original Study
Study data sourced from PubMed, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.
This study breakdown was produced by the RethinkTHC research team. We analyze and report published research findings without making health recommendations. All interpretations are based solely on the published abstract and study data.