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Combined Oral Contraceptive Use and Binge Eating
Kelly L Klump1, Alaina M Di Dio2,3, Carolina Anaya1
1Department of Psychology, Michigan State University, East Lansing.
JAMA Network Open
|June 17, 2026
Summary
Combined oral contraceptives (COCs) were associated with increased emotional eating (EE) in women. This study highlights a potential link between COCs and binge-eating risk, suggesting further research for personalized contraceptive options.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Psychiatry
- Women's Health
Background:
- Endogenous ovarian hormones are linked to increased binge-eating (BE) risk.
- Combined oral contraceptives (COCs) create a hormonal environment similar to the high-risk postovulatory phase.
- The impact of COCs on BE risk is not well understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between combined oral contraceptive (COC) use and binge-eating (BE) behaviors.
- To examine within-person changes in emotional eating (EE) related to active versus inactive COC pills.
Main Methods:
- A longitudinal survey study tracked daily COC use (active vs. inactive pills) and emotional eating (EE) in 422 women over 49 days.
- Analyses focused on within-person changes in EE, controlling for negative affect.
- The study also examined weight preoccupation (WP) as a control outcome.
Main Results:
- Women using active COC pills showed significant increases in emotional eating (EE) compared to when using inactive pills.
- These increases in EE were observed consistently across two pill cycles.
- No significant changes in weight preoccupation were found, and negative affect showed more modest changes.
Conclusions:
- Active combined oral contraceptive (COC) pills are specifically associated with an increased risk of emotional eating (EE).
- Further research is needed to identify individuals most susceptible to these effects and to develop contraceptive options with lower impacts on BE or EE.
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