Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is one of the most common chronic liver diseases in the world. As the disease's name suggests, it occurs in people who do not abuse alcohol.
Researchers have concluded that exercise reduces fat in the liver by three and a half times compared to conventional treatments.
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in the early stages often does not cause problems, but this will change over time. And if left untreated, it can lead to liver failure, cirrhosis, and even cancer.
One of the main causes of fatty liver disease is being overweight, especially if you have a lot of waist fat.
Therefore, to reduce the risk of fatty liver disease, one should first of all maintain a healthy weight, eat a balanced diet, and exercise regularly.
The study showed how much exercise is needed for this.
The article, published in the American Journal of Gastroenterology, used the results of 14 studies on exercise, which included 551 participants with fatty liver disease.
Researchers assessed data such as age, gender, body mass index, body weight change, adherence to exercise protocols, and liver fat levels measured by MRI.
Analysis has shown that 150 minutes of exercise per week – or just under 22 minutes per day – is optimal.
The recommended amount of exercise is endorsed by the American Gastroenterological Association, the European Association for the Study of the Liver and the National Health Service.< br>
Physicians counseling patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease should recommend this level of activity to their patients, the study says. Brisk walking or cycling for half an hour a day five times a week is just one example of a program that would meet these criteria.
In addition to being overweight, there are other factors that can increase the risk of NAFLD:< br>
- Type 2 diabetes
- Polycystic ovary syndrome
- An underactive thyroid gland (hypothyroidism)
- High cholesterol
- Metabolic syndrome (combination of diabetes, high blood pressure and obesity)
- Age over 50
- Smoking .
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Therefore, in order to reduce the risk of developing NAFLD, it is enough to lose weight, eat a healthy diet, exercise regularly and stop smoking. >Number of warning symptoms of fatty liver disease named
- Dull or aching pain in the upper right side of the abdomen (hypochondrium)
- Constant fatigue
- Unexplained weight loss
- Weakness
- Yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes (jaundice)
- Itchy skin
- Swelling of the legs, ankles, feet, or abdomen.
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