Eating disorders are health conditions that involve using food as a coping mechanism for your feelings and other stressful situations and events. Unhealthy eating behaviors can include eating too much or too little. The constant fear of gaining weight is a feeling that people with eating disorders live with, hindering them from performing everyday activities.
A common but erroneous perception of an eating disorder is that it is caused by a lack of self-control and discipline. However, the truth is that it is caused by a combination of behavioral, biological, social, and psychological factors. Studies have also established a genetic predisposition in many patients. It affects the person’s eating behavior and alters thoughts and emotions; hence many believe that Medical Marijuana Naples might be a good treatment choice. Marijuana-based therapies are being used to treat mental health issues and loss of appetite in cancer patients. This connection has opened doors for the debate on Marijuana as an effective treatment for eating disorders.
Medical Cannabis in Florida is available to patients suffering from a qualifying condition. Eating disorders are on the list of conditions for Medical Marijuana use. If you are approved by a qualified Marijuana physician and have received a Medical Marijuana Card, you are eligible to buy a range of Marijuana products from state-licensed dispensaries. However, if you are a new patient, you can contact our experienced Marijuana experts who can help you in the process of getting a Medical Marijuana Card and setting up an appointment with our experienced Marijuana physicians.
What are eating disorders?
Eating disorders are illnesses in which patients experience serious alterations in their eating behavior, coupled with modifications in their emotions and thought processes. People with eating disorders have an unrealistic image of their bodies and constantly worry about their weight. The most common eating disorders are:
Binge eating: This condition involves uncontrolled and uninhibited eating episodes beyond the point of feeling full. Patients cannot control these urges of binge eating, causing them immense distress. Feelings of guilt, shame, and regret often follow the episodes of binges.
Bulimia nervosa: This condition involves episodes of binge eating followed by purges. The purges are induced by laxatives, self-induced vomiting, or compensation with over-exercising and fasting.
Anorexia nervosa: Patients with anorexia starve themselves, leading to severe food restrictions, muscle wasting, and dehydration. Anorexia is the most dangerous amongst eating disorders as it is detrimental to a person’s body and mind if left untreated.
Other less common eating disorders include Rumination disorder, which involves recurring episodes of regurgitation or spitting of food without swallowing, and Pica, in which patients like to eat non-nutritious or no-food items; such as chalk, paint, sand, etc.
All these disorders manifest in a combination of physical and emotional symptoms. If you want to learn more about how Medical Marijuana can help you or your loved one suffering from an eating disorder, you should seek assistance from one of our experts.
Eating disorders and behavioral conditions
Clinical studies have established a link between obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and eating disorders. Some statistics suggest that more than 60% of patients with eating disorders suffer from some form of anxiety, and 40% have symptoms of OCD. Therefore, research is looking into therapies addressing anxiety and OCD as an effective and positive treatment for eating disorders. Every individual that has an eating disorder has a unique presentation, sometimes coupled with an underlying condition, posing an issue in its treatment. There is not a single traditional medicine or therapy available today to address all symptoms of a patient with these disorders.
The scientific fraternity is studying the endocannabinoid system (ECS) in great depth, to fully understand its impact on our physical and emotional wellbeing. Endocannabinoid system plays a pivotal role in managing fear, repetitive behaviors, mood, and anxiety. Recent studies suggest that patients with OCD have reported excellent results with the use of Medical Marijuana. Similarly, cancer patients can manage their weight loss by taking Medical Marijuana, as it improves their appetite. These clinical findings together suggest that Medical Marijuana can be a potential medication for treating eating disorders.
Medical Marijuana must be taken with a recommendation and under the guidance of a Marijuana physician. If you wish to include Medical Marijuana in your treatment, you must discuss it with your physician. Once you have a Marijuana Card Sarasota, you can talk to one of our physicians who will give you a Marijuana recommendation on the strain, product, dosage, and delivery method most suited for you.
Medical Marijuana and its effect on the body’s metabolism and appetite
Marijuana’s potential role in positively reducing anxiety and compulsions associated with eating disorders, seen in bulimia and anorexia, has led to more research on its role in treating these conditions. Studies have found that some Marijuana derivatives may trigger specific physiological changes that can palliate the onset and the consequences of eating disorders. Clinical studies on Medical Marijuana users have stated that Marijuana does indeed affect patients’ appetite. Marijuana may also affect the leptin (hormone released from the body’s fat cell) pathway of appetite stimulation, and continued research may lead to more substantial evidence to prove this hypothesis. Regarding Marijuana’s effect on the body’s metabolism, studies suggest that Marijuana users have a lower BMI than others, which has sparked a discussion that it may affect the body’s metabolism. Whether Marijuana is used to stimulate appetite, control anxiety and compulsions, or affects our metabolic process, there is growing indication that Medical Marijuana could be a valuable treatment option for people struggling with eating disorders.
Can you get Medical Marijuana without a Florida Marijuana Card?
Medical Marijuana is legal to use for qualified Marijuana patients only. In Florida, to qualify for medical Marijuana, you must get certified by a state-licensed Marijuana physician. Once you qualify, you can apply for your Medical Marijuana Card.
If you are unsure of the process of finding a Medical Marijuana physician near you, getting approval, and applying for a Marijuana card, you don’t have to worry, as we can help you at every step of the process. We can provide you with everything that you will need to pursue Medical Marijuana treatment in Florida.
