(P29-029-23) Association of Self-Reported Cannabis Use and Dietary Behaviors: Data From the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults Cohort

Objectives: To assess self-reported cannabis use during young adulthood in relation to concurrent frequency of meals, snacks, fast food, and restaurant meals.

Methods: We used data from the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) study, a longitudinal cohort of Black and White US adults aged 18-30 years at baseline (1985-1986) and with 8 follow-up exams over 30 years. Self-reported cannabis use was assessed with three methods: 1) group-based trajectories over 30 years 2) current cannabis use status, and 3) cumulative cannabis use. Outcomes included self-reported monthly frequencies of meals, evening snacks, fast food, and restaurant meals assessed at exam years 7 (Y7) and 20 (Y20). We estimated each outcome with multivariable linear regression after adjustment for age, sex, race, field center, marital status, education, body mass index, physical activity, cigarette smoking, and alcohol use.

Results: Among 3777 participants at exam Y7, prevalence of current cannabis use was 16%, former use was 67%, median cumulative use was 0.15 years (IQR=0.0, 0.4), and we observed n=5 unique 30-year cannabis trajectory groups. Median monthly frequency of evening snacks was 12.9 (IQR=0.0, 21.4). All cannabis use definitions were associated with greater adjusted frequency of monthly evening snacks at Y7. Trajectory Group 5 ( >80% probability of cannabis use at each exam) had 1.8 more (95% CI: 0.5, 3.1) monthly evening snacks compared with Group 1 ( < 1% probability of cannabis use at each exam). Compared with never-users, current cannabis users had 2.0 more (95% CI: 0.6, 3.3) and former cannabis users had 1.3 more (95% CI: 0.3, 2.3) monthly evening snacks. A 1-year increment in cumulative cannabis years was associated with 0.6 more (95% CI: 0.3, 0.9) monthly evening snacks. At Y20, among 2525 participants, current cannabis users (10%) consumed 2.8 more (95% CI: 1.1, 4.6) restaurant meals compared to those who never used cannabis. For fast food at Y20, among 2408 participants, current cannabis users (10.3%) had 2.1 more (95% CI: 0.4, 3.8) fast food occasions.

Conclusions: Cannabis use may be associated with small but greater frequency of evening snacking and eating restaurant and fast-food meals.

Funding Sources: CARDIA is supported by NIH contracts HHSN268201800003I, HHSN268201800004I, HHSN268201800005I, HHSN268201800006I, and HHSN268201800007I.