Source
Federal University of São Paulo, Paulista Medicine School, UNIFESP, EPM, São Paulo, Brazil.
Abstract
BACKGROUND:
Despite the increasing prevalence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, its pathogenesis and clinical significance remain poorly defined and there is no ideal treatment.
OBJECTIVE:
The aim of this study was to assess the short-term (12-week) multidisciplinary therapy on visceral adiposity and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease control.
METHODS:
We evaluated and compared the distribution of visceral adiposity and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, by ultrasonography, in 73 post-puberty obese participants (17.01+/-1.6 years old; body mass index 36.54+/-2.86 kg/m), submitted to a multidisciplinary treatment without medications, at the beginning and after 12 weeks of intervention. Descriptive and one-way analysis of variance, and paired t-test were performed.
RESULTS:
The results indicated that after intervention the adolescents had a significant reduction in visceral adiposity (4.05+/-1.55 to 3.37+/-1.44) and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease prevalence (from 52 to 29% on the right side and from 48 to 29% on the left side). It is a positive result because nonalcoholic fatty liver disease can progress to cirrhosis, even in children and adolescents.
CONCLUSIONS:
The short-term treatment suggests a profound impact on the control of obesity-related co-morbidities in young people.