Optimal Exercise Frequency to Reduce Liver Fat in Centrally Obese Adults With Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

Launched by THE UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG · Feb 13, 2023

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is looking at how often exercise can help reduce liver fat in adults who are centrally obese and have a condition called non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Specifically, the study compares exercising once a week to three times a week, following the World Health Organization's recommendations for physical activity. The goal is to find out which exercise frequency is more effective in improving liver health for these individuals.

To participate in the trial, you need to be between 18 and 69 years old, speak Cantonese, Mandarin, or English, and meet certain health criteria, such as having a high waist circumference and being diagnosed with NAFLD. Participants who join can expect to engage in exercise training designed to help improve their condition. However, individuals with certain medical histories or conditions that limit their ability to exercise will not be eligible. This study is currently recruiting participants, and it offers a chance to be part of important research aimed at better understanding the benefits of exercise for liver health.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • 1. Cantonese, Mandarin, or English speaking Chinese;
• • 2. Aged 18-69;
• • 3. Male or female;
• • 4. Centrally obese according to the Asian-specific cut-off (waist circumference ≥90 cm for males; ≥80 cm for females) and with BMI ≥23;
• • 5. With NAFLD (defined as \>5% intrahepatic triglycerides assessed by 1H-MRS);
• • 6. Willing to participate in exercise training to improve NAFLD.
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • 1. Regular exercise training (\>3 sessions of \>60 min of moderate-intensity exercise training weekly) in the past 6 months;
• • 2. Medical history of cardiovascular disease, chronic pulmonary or kidney disease, heart failure, cancer, and/or liver disease except NAFLD;
• • 3. Somatic conditions that limit exercise participation (e.g., limb loss);
• • 4. Impaired mobility due to chronic disease (e.g., chronic arthritis/osteoarthritis, neurological, musculoskeletal, and autoimmune diseases);
• • 5. Daily smoking habit;
• • 6. Excess alcohol consumption (daily ≥20 g of alcohol for men and ≥10 g for women) in the past 1 year;
• • 7. Consumption of certain drugs (e.g., tamoxifen and estrogen) known to be secondary causes of steatosis;
• • 8. Surgery, therapy, or medication for obesity or weight loss in the past 6 months (e.g., gastric bypass, gastric band, sleeve gastrectomy, gastric reduction duodenal switch, or dietitian-prescribed dietary program);
• • 9. Physical changes that considerably affect body composition and weight (e.g., anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, prolonged gastrointestinal and digestive disorders) during the study period.