Overweight, obesity, and substance use disorders are significant public health problems associated with increased health risks and medical costs (Bertakis & Azari, 2005; McGinnis & Foege, 1999; Must et al., 1999). Although the greatest health risks are associated with obesity, being even moderately overweight increases risk for both physical and psychiatric illness (Barry, Pietrzak, & Petry, 2008; Colditz, Willett, Rotnitzky, & Manson, 1995; Nagaya, Yoshida, Takahashi, & Kawai, 2005; Petry, Barry, Pietrzak, & Wagner, 2008). Use of alcohol, some illicit drugs, and nicotine are known to affect appetite (Abel, 1975; Grunberg, 1982; Hetherington, Cameron, Wallis, & Pirie, 2001), but relationships between substance use and body weight appear to vary based on the specific substance used and users’ demographic characteristics, particularly gender. Associations of substance use with body weight may also differ for moderate users versus those with substance use disorders. To date, few studies have examined associations between overweight/obesity and the risk for substance use disorders.
