Effect of a short-term physical activity intervention on liver fat content in obese children

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease is the most common chronic liver disease and can present with advanced fibrosis or nonalcoholic steatohepatitis. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of a 7-day intense physical activity intervention on liver fat content in children with obesity. Fifty-seven obese children (Mean BMI: 26.5±3.2 kg/m2; Mean age: 12.0±0.8 y) participated in a 7-day physical activity program. All participants were housed together and their food intake and energy expenditure were strictly controlled. Anthropometric measurements, abdominal CT scans, blood analyses were conducted at baseline and post-intervention. Participants lost weight by 2.53±0.85kg on average (61.0±9.8 vs. 58.5±9.5 kg, p < 0.05), fat mass (16.7±5.1 vs 15.7±4.9 kg, p < 0.05), and serum insulin (13.7±6.7 vs. 3.5±2.0 μU/ml, p < 0.05). However, liver fat content was increased, presented as liver-to-spleen ratio (LSR) where lower LSR represents higher liver fat content. The intervention increased aspartate transa...