Holistic health: How medical cannabis can support eating disorder recovery

Eating Disorder Awareness Week 2025

Eating Disorder Awareness Week is an annual campaign to raise awareness of these conditions. This year’s theme - eating disorders can affect anyone - aims to challenge common misconceptions about these conditions. It highlights the fact that eating disorders can affect anyone, at any time of their lives. 

Why it matters

According to the leading eating disorder charity, Beat, at least 1.25 million people in the UK are living with an eating disorder— more than 1 in 50 people. However the real figure is likely to be even higher. Eating disorders are complex mental health conditions which often go misunderstood, mislabelled and undiagnosed. Stigma and misconceptions prevent many people from speaking about it openly and reaching out for help.

Beat surveyed almost 2,000 people with lived experience of an eating disorder. Four out of five respondents thought that greater public awareness would help them feel more comfortable talking about their eating disorder.

What is an eating disorder?

The NHS defines an eating disorder as a mental health condition where patients ‘use control of food to cope with feelings and other situations’. 

The most common eating disorders are:

• Anorexia nervosa (often called anorexia) – trying to control your weight by not eating enough food, exercising too much, or doing both

• Bulimia – losing control over how much you eat and then taking drastic action to not put on weight

• Binge eating disorder (BED) – eating large portions of food until you feel uncomfortably full

• Other specified feeding or eating disorders (OSFED) - where symptoms do not exactly fit those expected for any specific eating disorders.

• Avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID) — when someone avoids certain foods, limits how much they eat or does both.

How to support someone with an eating disorder

Eating disorders don’t just affect the person with the condition. It can be extremely distressing for friends and family to watch a loved one suffer. They may even have to take on the role of carer to support their recovery. 

When someone is struggling with an eating disorder it can be difficult to know how best to support them. It is not unusual for people to become secretive or defensive, or not even realise that they have a problem. Try to broach the topic sensitively, perhaps with information and resources to hand, and encourage them to see their GP. Beat has some resources to help loved ones talk to a family, friend, or colleague. 

Eating disorder treatment

There are many different approaches to treatment for an eating disorder. Treatment will vary depending on the type of eating disorder and not every approach will be right for everyone. Depending on the severity of their symptoms, some patients may need to stay in hospital in the early stages of their recovery, while others can be treated as outpatients with regular health checks. 

Talking therapies

Typically the first line of treatment on the NHS involves some form of talking therapy. In anorexia these include cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), Maudsley Anorexia Nervosa Treatment for Adults (MANTRA) and/or Specialist supportive Clinical Management (SSCM). Focal psychodynamic therapy may be offered if these approaches haven’t worked effectively. In some cases patients may also benefit from group or family therapy.

Nutritional support 

Patients also usually receive nutritional support from a dietician. This might include specialist dietary advice and a meal plan to help them reach a healthy weight, as well as advice around supplements to address potential deficiencies. 

Medication

Eating disorders are also regularly accompanied by other mental health conditions like anxiety, depression, and/or obsessive compulsive disorder. Some people may also be prescribed medication, such as antidepressants, to help them manage some of these symptoms.

Mindfulness and self-care

Mindfulness-based practices such as journaling or using distraction techniques can sometimes be helpful for overcoming negative thoughts and feelings throughout recovery. These practices may be something a patient can work on with their therapist. Beat also has a number of self-help resources and self-care tips for those navigating recovery. 

Recovery from an eating disorder

Recovery from an eating disorder looks different for everyone. It often requires the patient and their medical team to take a holistic approach, combining the different treatment options to address the root cause as well as the acute symptoms. 

It can take a long time to recover from an eating disorder (although a full recovery is usually possible). Some people find alternative and complementary therapies, such as yoga and meditation, helpful while navigating what can be a challenging journey.

Medical cannabis may be another adjunctive therapy that is worth considering. 

Medical cannabis and eating disorders

Medical cannabis has been legal in the UK since 2018 and is now prescribed for mental health conditions such as anxiety, depression and OCD, where other treatments have failed. Those experiencing an eating disorder may also find it helpful as a complementary part of their treatment plan, for managing symptoms such as anxiety around food and loss of appetite. 

Some early studies have pointed to a potential role of the endocannabinoid system in eating disorders, particularly anorexia and binge eating disorder.  However, the evidence that looks specifically at the interaction between medical cannabis and eating disorders is still very limited. 

While the scientific evidence for the use of medical cannabis in eating disorders is still scarce, there is a growing evidence base to suggest it can improve overall quality of life in patients with psychiatric conditions.

For example, real-world data from the UK has found that 86% of patients reported an improvement in anxiety or depression after three months of treatment with cannabis-based products, and patients also reported changes in their overall quality of life and sleep quality.

Accessing medical cannabis treatment for an eating disorder

Medical cannabis should always be prescribed under the supervision of a specialist clinician. In order to be considered for treatment with Releaf, people must have tried at least two conventional treatments that have been unsuccessful. You can complete an initial eligibility check here.

The journey to recovery from an eating disorder can be fraught with emotional and physical challenges. Those interested in learning more about medical cannabis should contact Releaf’s patient support team for a chat, safe in the knowledge that they will be treated with empathy and understanding.