No abstract

Background: Obesity is a risk factor for non-response to interferon-based hepatitis C therapy. We studied the effect of weight management program to induce weight loss in overweight patients prior to starting antiviral therapy on treatment response. Methods:Overweight patients received a weight loss brochure and a 6-week nutrition and exercise program prior to PEG-IFN + Ribavirin therapy (n=25). Early virological response rates (EVR) were compared between overweight subjects with and without ≥ 3% weight loss and control lean subjects (n=11).Results: Moderate to severe fibrosis was present in 41.7% and moderate to severe steatosis in 16.7% of patients. Most were Caucasians (90% and 72% for lean and overweight group, respectively). There was no statistical difference in age, sex or race between those who lost ≥ 3% of their body weight and those who didn't among overweight group. Overweight subjects who lost ≥ 3% of body weight at week 12 of CHC therapy had higher EVR vs. those without ≥ 3% weight loss, 69.2% vs. 33.3%, p=0.036. Conclusion:Overweight patients enrolled into weight management program who achieved ≥ 3% body weight loss at 12 weeks of CHC therapy had higher EVR compared to those without 3% weight loss.