Exercise, diet reduce fatty liver in obese teens
January 07, 2007
NEW YORK- Efforts to help obese children
become more active and eat better can help reduce the amount
of fatty tissue in their livers...
Known medically as nonalcoholic fatty liver
disease, this condition is becoming increasingly common as
the prevalence of obesity increases, Dr. Ana R. Damaso and
colleagues from the Federal University of Sao Paulo in Brazil
note in their report. There are currently no drugs available
to reverse fatty liver disease, which can progress to cirrhosis,
even among young patients.
At the study's outset, 52 percent had fatty
liver disease on the right side of the organ, and 48 percent
had fatty liver on the left side. After the program, the prevalence
of fatty liver disease on both sides fell significantly to
29 percent.
After the intervention, obese
teens had less fat surrounding their abdominal organs and,
on average, their weight and body mass index (BMI) were reduced;
48 percent lost weight, while 48 percent maintained their
weight and 4 percent gained weight.
One important aspect of the findings, Damaso
and colleagues point out is how common fatty liver disease
is among obese adolescents. There is evidence that gradual
weight loss is the best way to reduce fatty
liver disease, they add, while sudden, large-scale weight
loss may actually worsen liver function and lead to liver
failure
The long-term effectiveness of lifestyle
interventions and cholesterol-lowering drugs in fighting fatty
liver disease.
Source from:
http://news.yahoo.com
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