Male College Students with Eating Disorder Symptoms Had the Highest Cannabis Use Disorder Rates
Among 471 college students, eating disorder symptoms were associated with more cannabis use and cannabis use disorder symptoms, with male students who screened positive for eating disorders showing the highest cannabis use disorder severity.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
About one-third (32.4%) of the sample screened positive for an eating disorder. Screening positive was associated with cannabis use frequency and cannabis use disorder symptoms, but not alcohol outcomes. Sex moderated the cannabis use disorder association: male students who screened positive for eating disorders had the highest cannabis use disorder symptoms, a counterintuitive finding given that eating disorders are more common in females.
Key Numbers
N=471 college students. 32.4% screened positive for eating disorder. Females more likely to screen positive for ED. Males more likely to screen positive for alcohol or cannabis use disorder. ED associated with cannabis frequency and CUD symptoms (not alcohol). Sex moderated ED-CUD relationship: males with positive ED screen had highest CUD symptoms.
How They Did This
Cross-sectional study of 471 college students recruited for a study on high-risk drinking (regular pregaming required). Eating disorder screening, alcohol use disorder, and cannabis use disorder assessments were completed, with sex-stratified analyses.
Why This Research Matters
Eating disorders in males are often underdiagnosed and undertreated. The finding that male students with eating disorder symptoms have particularly high cannabis use disorder rates suggests that screening for one condition should prompt assessment for the other, especially in male college students.
The Bigger Picture
Eating disorders and substance use disorders share common mechanisms including impulsivity, emotion regulation difficulties, and reward processing. This study suggests cannabis, rather than alcohol, may be the substance most closely linked to disordered eating in college populations, particularly among males.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Sample selected for high-risk drinking (pregaming), which may not represent all college students. Cross-sectional design cannot determine directionality. Self-report measures. Cannot determine whether cannabis use is a cause, consequence, or co-occurring condition with eating disorders.
Questions This Raises
- ?Are male students using cannabis to manage appetite or body image concerns related to their eating disorder?
- ?Does cannabis use worsen or alleviate eating disorder symptoms?
- ?Would integrated treatment addressing both conditions improve outcomes?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- Male students with eating disorder symptoms had the highest cannabis use disorder rates
- Evidence Grade:
- Moderate evidence from a reasonably sized college sample, though limited by selection for high-risk drinking and cross-sectional design.
- Study Age:
- 2025 study examining the intersection of eating disorders and cannabis use in college students.
- Original Title:
- Alcohol use disorder, cannabis use disorder, and eating disorder symptoms among male and female college students.
- Published In:
- The American journal on addictions, 34(1), 40-49 (2025)
- Authors:
- Pedersen, Eric R(18), Shute, Ireland M(2), Buch, Keegan D(2), Fitzke, Reagan E, Berry, Katherine A, Tran, Denise D, Murray, Stuart B
- Database ID:
- RTHC-07332
Evidence Hierarchy
A snapshot of a population at one point in time.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
Are eating disorders and cannabis use linked?
In this study, college students who screened positive for eating disorders had higher rates of cannabis use and cannabis use disorder symptoms. The association was particularly strong in male students, who are often overlooked in eating disorder research.
Why might males with eating disorders use more cannabis?
The study did not determine the reason, but possible explanations include using cannabis to manage appetite, cope with emotional distress related to body image, or shared underlying vulnerabilities like impulsivity and emotion regulation difficulties.
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Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-07332APA
Pedersen, Eric R; Shute, Ireland M; Buch, Keegan D; Fitzke, Reagan E; Berry, Katherine A; Tran, Denise D; Murray, Stuart B. (2025). Alcohol use disorder, cannabis use disorder, and eating disorder symptoms among male and female college students.. The American journal on addictions, 34(1), 40-49. https://doi.org/10.1111/ajad.13634
MLA
Pedersen, Eric R, et al. "Alcohol use disorder, cannabis use disorder, and eating disorder symptoms among male and female college students.." The American journal on addictions, 2025. https://doi.org/10.1111/ajad.13634
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "Alcohol use disorder, cannabis use disorder, and eating diso..." RTHC-07332. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/pedersen-2025-alcohol-use-disorder-cannabis
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.