Postoperative Marijuana Use and Disordered Eating Among Bariatric Surgery Patients

• This study examined whether marijuana use after bariatric surgery is connected to food addiction symptoms and unhealthy eating patterns.
• Marijuana's appetite-stimulating effect could work against the mechanisms that make surgery effective. The study found significant associations with food addiction and disordered eating.
• Some patients experience 'addiction transfer,' where compulsive relationships with food shift to another substance or behavior after surgery.
• This study was considered significant enough to receive an invited editorial commentary from SOARD's editors.
• The study included a diverse group of patients from South Florida, reflecting the community served.
• For patients who use marijuana, this research provides important information to discuss with their surgeon, offered without judgment.

Why This Study Was Needed

Marijuana stimulates appetite and is increasingly legal and socially accepted, yet almost nothing was known about its use after bariatric surgery or whether it affects eating behavior, which is central to long-term success.

How the Study Was Done

Fifty patients, average age 28, were assessed about two years after surgery at a US university hospital. Most were women (76%) and most had gastric bypass (62%). Validated tools measured marijuana use, food addiction and disordered eating, with adjustment for age, sex, ethnicity, time since surgery and BMI change.

What the Study Found

• 18% reported current marijuana use, 38% use within the past year, and 21.4% said their use had increased since surgery.
• Loss of control over eating was associated with current and increased marijuana use.
• Regular or increased use predicted higher scores on disordered eating scales.
• Current use did not significantly predict higher food addiction scores.

What This Means for Patients

Many patients use marijuana after surgery despite advice against it. If you use it, talk openly with your team; we ask without judgment so we can help. Marijuana can trigger cravings and loss of control around food, which works against your surgery. Read about emotional eating, 7 practical ways to cope with cravings and why hunger returns after surgery.

Clinical Pearls

• About one in five patients reported increased marijuana use after surgery.
• Marijuana use was linked to disordered eating and loss of control over food intake.
• Patients who used marijuana before surgery may need closer monitoring for years.

Strengths and Limitations

This was among the first studies of marijuana use after bariatric surgery and used validated assessments. The sample was small and cross-sectional, so it shows associations rather than cause and effect.

Expert Commentary

Patients do not always volunteer that they use marijuana, so I ask. This study showed that it is common and that it can undermine control over eating, the very thing surgery helps restore. An honest conversation lets us plan support instead of being surprised later.

— Dr. Nestor de la Cruz-Muñoz

Related Research

• A Preliminary Study on the Influence of Cannabis and Opioid Use on Weight Loss and Mental Health Biomarkers Post-Weight Loss Surgery
• Alcohol and Drug Use Among Post-Operative Bariatric Patients: A Systematic Review of the Emerging Research and Its Implications