According to the 11th edition of the World Health Organization's ICD-11 classification of diseases, several types of eating disorders are distinguished in adolescents and adults, of which 3 are most commonly diagnosed: anorexia, bulimia and bouts of uncontrolled overeating. Scientific research confirms that CBD can complement the treatment of eating disorders, for example, as an adjunct to psychotherapy.

Mental anorexia- anorexia nervosa anorexia nervosa

Mental anorexia, or anorexia nervosa, is the long-term, rigorous restriction of food. Sick women and girls (anorexia affects women much more often than men) only allow themselves to consume low-calorie foods and drinks, and excessively and obsessively focus on exercise to burn calories.

Distorted self-perception, significant weight loss and a strong fear of gaining weight are characteristic symptoms. In anorexia, the mortality rate ranges from 3.2% if the disease lasts less than 15 years, up to 6.6% cases if the disease lasts more than 15 years.

The most common cause of death is extreme emaciation and cachexia. The immediate cause is cardiac arrest due to pericardial fluid or suicide. Indirectly, excessive alcohol consumption, anxiety and depression may contribute to the suicides of people with anorexia.

Patients often suffer the serious psychosocial consequences of the disease for years, including:

insulation,
conflicts in the family,
Problems in daily social functioning.

The medical consequences that anorexia leads to include:

Cortical atrophy in the brain,
permanent neuropsychiatric deficits,
epileptic seizures,
depression,
osteoporosis,
cardiac arrhythmias,
cyanosis,
stunted growth,
Stunted psychosexual development,
The disappearance of menstruation and libido,
hunger swellings,
Muscle, abdominal and stomach pains,
Impaired functioning of the kidneys and liver,
Emaciation and emaciation of the body.

Mental gluttony - bulimia

Mental gluttony, or bulimia (bulimia nervosa). is a persistent focus on food accompanied by a strong desire or feeling of compulsion to eat. The patient usually tries to overcome it by starving herself/himself, with episodes of overeating occurring in the meantime.

The sick person, in order not to gain weight, provokes vomiting, excretion, uses drugs, such as appetite suppressants. People suffering from bulimia, as in the case of anorexia, attach great importance to their figure and body weight.

Some medical consequences of bulimia:

metabolic disorders,
electrolyte disorders,
vitamin deficiencies,
damage to the throat and esophagus,
Disordered bowel function associated with laxative abuse,
tooth enamel erosion,
weakening,
headaches,
neuropathies,
seizures,

Psychosocial consequences:

insulation,
Subordination of functioning to bulimic cycles,
lack of close relationships,
Sudden weight fluctuations, significant weight loss.

Eating disorder with attacks of uncontrolled overeating - binge eating disorder (BED)

Eating disorders with attacks of uncontrolled overeating (binge eating disorder, BED) is recurrent episodes of overeating. It is often associated with dissatisfaction with oneself, feelings of guilt, and depressive episodes related to lack of control over eating. Some in the medical community recognize that paroxysmal eating syndrome is one form of bulimia. The only difference is that it does not involve the vomiting, laxation and starvation or compulsive exercise typical of bulimia. This causes sufferers to gain weight rather than lose it.

Other types of eating disorders highlighted in the ICD-11:

other specific feeding or eating disorder (OSFED),

Eating disorders involving avoidance or restriction of food intake (AFRID),

Nonspecific feeding or eating disorder (feeding or eating disorder, unspecified).

CBD in the treatment of eating disorders

The endocannabinoid system has been described as a modulator of many physiological processes.
In the context of eating disorders, the body's overall balance (homeostasis) and the experience of pleasure from eating are particularly important. Receptors of the CB1 endocannabinoid system are found in large numbers in areas of the brain responsible for controlling eating, the dopamine reward system and maintaining optimal energy levels.

Some researchers believe that CB1 receptors in humans and other mammals stimulate appetite, causing a reward system response after eating. However, in the process, there are also substances that inhibit eating excessive amounts of food (CB1 receptor antagonists). They can inhibit overeating.

Data collected by eating disorder pharmacotherapy researchers indicate that CBD can be used in those types of disorders in which patients/kids gain weight significantly (such as the aforementioned BED) or those in which they abstain from food for long periods of time (such as anorexia).

In some studies, blocking CB1 receptors has been proven in animal models of BED to inhibit overeating and contribute to marked weight loss. However, when these receptors were completely blocked, there were side effects - Anxiety and depression.

Therefore, research has focused on finding substances that could only block CB1 receptors located in parts of the brain associated with the control of eating and the reward system.. In this context, Researchers bet on synthetic CBD and other substances that are regional ECS receptor antagonists.

CBD and THC as support for psychotherapy of eating disorders

The researchers concluded that hemp cannabinoids can be a good support for psychotherapy treatment of female patients with anorexia, among other things, helping them gain distance from their eating behavior and see it in a different, more realistic light.

Anorexia is additionally associated with abnormal secretion of the hunger hormone ghrelin. It can be expected that CBD and THC therapy can affect the level adjustment of this hormone. Combined with psychotherapy, it can work to change the relationship with food in female patients.

Researchers believe that the impact on treatment of eating disorders also has the impact of CBD on blood glucose. CBD regulates blood sugar levels and therefore keeps appetite at optimal levels. This can inhibit bouts of overeating in people suffering from bulimia, for example.