Fatty liver: exercise helps even without losing weight

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The liver also benefits from exercise. Especially people with fatty liver should get moving. Even if the pounds don't drop, the fat content of the vital organ will decrease.

When it comes to fatty liver, many suspect excessive alcohol consumption. The non-alcoholic fatty liver is much more common: around 30 percent of Germans are affected. And the number is increasing: "Obesity is the most important risk factor, with the fat in the abdominal region being particularly dangerous," says Prof. Elke Roeb from the University Hospital in Giessen and Marburg.

Regenerative organ

Fortunately, the liver is very capable of regeneration - in the fatty liver stage, the organ can fully recover if overweight patients lose weight, for example through physical activity. A weight loss of 14 percent lowers the liver fat content by 35 to 81 percent, according to the recently updated guideline on non-alcoholic fatty liver.

But even those who fail to lose weight benefit from exercise. "It's worth it," says Roeb, who played a key role in creating the guideline. In one experiment, eight weeks of exercise on the bicycle ergometer were enough to reduce the fat content in the liver of those affected by 13 percent.

Sick without knowing it

If the liver becomes fatty, it goes unnoticed for a long time. The first symptoms such as tiredness and a diffuse feeling of pressure in the upper abdomen only appear when the disease is well advanced. Then the final remodeling of the liver tissue to scar and connective tissue threatens: a life-threatening liver cirrhosis develops. Fatty liver is also more likely to develop liver cancer. In addition, the disease is associated with a significantly higher risk of cardiovascular diseases.

Many children are sick too

Although most of the sick are already adults, one in ten children and adolescents in Germany has already developed fatty liver. About 4,000 of them are threatened by an "aggressively progressing form", the scientists report in the guideline. "The development is terrifying," says Roeb. And it shows how important medicine should take not only the treatment, but above all also the prevention of overweight and obesity.

By the way, everyone can do something for the health of their liver: with a healthy diet, moderate alcohol consumption - and as much exercise as possible. (cf)

Source: DGVS press release, New Guideline on the Widespread Disease Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver: Exercise helps - even if you can't lose weight, July 2015

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