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Review
. 2024 Mar;13(1):154-166.
doi: 10.1007/s13679-023-00544-x. Epub 2024 Jan 3.

Prenatal Exposure to Cannabis: Effects on Childhood Obesity and Cardiometabolic Health

Brianna F Moore  1   2
Affiliations
Review

Prenatal Exposure to Cannabis: Effects on Childhood Obesity and Cardiometabolic Health

Brianna F Moore. Curr Obes Rep. 2024 Mar.

Abstract

Purpose of review: To consolidate information on the obesogenic and cardiometabolic effects of prenatal exposure to cannabis.

Recent findings: A PubMed search strategy updated from January 1, 2014, through 14 June 2023, produced a total of 47 epidemiologic studies and 12 animal studies. Prenatal exposure to cannabis is consistently associated with small for gestational age and low birth weight. After birth, these offspring gain weight rapidly and have increased adiposity and higher glucose (fat mass percentage) in childhood. More preclinical and prospective studies are needed to deepen our understanding of whether these associations vary by sex, dose, timing, and composition of cannabis (e.g., ratio of delta-Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol [Δ9-THC] to cannabidiol [CBD]). Addressing these gaps may help to solidify causality and identify intervention strategies. Based on the available data, clinicians and public health officials should continue to caution against cannabis use during pregnancy to limit its potential obesogenic and adverse cardiometabolic effects on the offspring.

Keywords: Cannabis; Glucose; Metabolic; Obesity; Prenatal; Weight.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Potential mechanisms underlying the associations between prenatal exposure to cannabinoids with child obesity and cardiometabolic health. Images were obtained from the free medical site http://smart.servier.com/ by Servier licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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