People With Eating Disorders Rate Cannabis and Psychedelics as Most Helpful for Their Symptoms

Among 6,612 respondents with eating disorders, cannabis and psychedelics received the highest ratings for improving ED symptoms specifically. Prescription antidepressants were rated highly for general mental health but not for eating disorder symptoms, with exceptions for fluoxetine (bulimia nervosa) and lisdexamfetamine (binge-eating disorder). Alcohol, nicotine, and tobacco were rated as the most harmful substances.

International online survey (MED-FED) advertised via social media, forums, and clinical services. Recruited adults self-reporting an ED or disordered eating from November 2022 to May 2023. 7,648 recruited, 6,612 completed demographics, 5,123 completed the full survey. Participants rated each substance on a 5-point Likert scale for ED symptom improvement, mental health benefits, and side effects.

Effective pharmacotherapies for eating disorders remain limited. This large-scale survey captures the lived experience of thousands of people who have tried both prescription and non-prescription substances for their conditions, offering insights into what patients themselves find most helpful.

The high prevalence of substance use among people with eating disorders suggests self-medication is common when conventional treatments fall short. The finding that cannabis and psychedelics are perceived as the most helpful for ED symptoms specifically (not just general mental health) points to potential therapeutic pathways worth rigorous clinical investigation.

Self-report and retrospective design. Self-selected sample recruited through social media. Predominantly female and young. 37.7% were self-diagnosed. No verification of actual substance use patterns or clinical outcomes. Perceived efficacy does not equal measured efficacy.