This study examines the relationship between cannabis use and body weight in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. Patients with HCV are at greater risk of developing metabolic disorders, and obesity is a significant risk factor for these disorders. Cannabis use is common in these patients and has been associated with lower adiposity in various populations. Despite this, the association between chronic HCV and this relationship has yet to be investigated.
Researchers used data from the French ANRS CO22 Hepather cohort to conduct this study. They used logistic regression models to analyze the inverse relationship between cannabis use (former/current) and central obesity (i.e., large waist circumference) and overweight and obesity (i.e., high body mass index (BMI)) in patients with chronic HCV infection. They also analyzed the relationships between cannabis use and waist circumference and BMI as continuous variables, using linear regression models.
The study results showed that current cannabis use was associated with a lower risk of central obesity, BMI-based obesity, and overweight in patients with chronic HCV infection. This relationship was also observed in former cannabis use but to a lesser extent. Former and current cannabis use also was associated with a lower waist circumference and lower BMI.
In conclusion, the study results suggest that former and current cannabis use is consistently related to a lower waist circumference, lower BMI, and lower risk of overweight, obesity, and central obesity in patients with chronic HCV infection. While current evidence suggests a correlation between cannabis use and corpulence & liver outcomes after curing HCV, longitudinal studies are still required to validate these claims.
