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  • Review Article
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Physical activity: an essential component of lifestyle modification in NAFLD

Nature Reviews Gastroenterology & Hepatology volume 9, pages 726–731 (2012)Cite this article

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Abstract

NAFLD encompasses a spectrum of liver diseases pertaining to fat accumulation in the liver in the absence of significant alcohol consumption. NASH is the most clinically relevant subset of NAFLD, and patients with NASH have an increased risk of progression to cirrhosis or developing liver cancer. No pharmacotherapy is currently approved for NAFLD, and lifestyle modification via diet and exercise is most commonly recommended. The optimal physical activity regimen in terms of both effectiveness and compliance remains to be determined and is the focus of this Review.

Key Points

  • Lifestyle modification via increased physical activity is beneficial in patients with NAFLD

  • Although weight loss has been shown to produce improvement in biochemical and histological markers of NAFLD, exercise might improve hepatic steatosis and steatohepatitis even in the absence of major weight loss

  • Cardiovascular and resistance training both seem to benefit patients with NAFLD; further study is needed to determine if one is more effective than the other

  • A reduction in sedentary time in the absence of increased intense physical activity might also improve NAFLD, although more research is required

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Figure 1: Treatment algorithm for initiation of exercise programme.

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Acknowledgements

The view(s) expressed herein are those of the author(s) and do not reflect the official policy or position of Brooke Army Medical Center, the US Army Medical Department, the US Army Office of the Surgeon General, the Department of the Army, Department of Defense or the US Government.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, 20889, Washington, D.C., USA

    Benjamin Rodriguez & Dawn M. Torres

  2. Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, San Antonio Military Medical Center, Fort Sam Houston, San Antonio, 78234, TX, USA

    Stephen A. Harrison

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  1. Benjamin Rodriguez
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  2. Dawn M. Torres
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  3. Stephen A. Harrison
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All authors contributed equally to all aspects of this manuscript.

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Correspondence to Stephen A. Harrison.

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The authors declare no competing financial interests.

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Rodriguez, B., Torres, D. & Harrison, S. Physical activity: an essential component of lifestyle modification in NAFLD. Nat Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol 9, 726–731 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrgastro.2012.200

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