Optimal Exercise Frequency to Reduce Liver Fat in Centrally Obese Adults With Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease
Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease, Obesity
About this trial
This is an interventional treatment trial for Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease focused on measuring Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease, Overweight, Central Obesity, Obesity, Adults, Aerobic Exercise, Exercise Frequency
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria: Cantonese, Mandarin, or English speaking Chinese; Aged 18-69; Male or female; Centrally obese according to the Asian-specific cut-off (waist circumference ≥90 cm for males; ≥80 cm for females) and with BMI ≥23; With NAFLD (defined as >5% intrahepatic triglycerides assessed by 1H-MRS); Willing to participate in exercise training to improve NAFLD. Exclusion Criteria: Regular exercise training (>3 sessions of >60 min of moderate-intensity exercise training weekly) in the past 6 months; Medical history of cardiovascular disease, chronic pulmonary or kidney disease, heart failure, cancer, and/or liver disease except NAFLD; Somatic conditions that limit exercise participation (e.g., limb loss); Impaired mobility due to chronic disease (e.g., chronic arthritis/osteoarthritis, neurological, musculoskeletal, and autoimmune diseases); Daily smoking habit; Excess alcohol consumption (daily ≥20 g of alcohol for men and ≥10 g for women) in the past 1 year; Consumption of certain drugs (e.g., tamoxifen and estrogen) known to be secondary causes of steatosis; Surgery, therapy, or medication for obesity or weight loss in the past 6 months (e.g., gastric bypass, gastric band, sleeve gastrectomy, gastric reduction duodenal switch, or dietitian-prescribed dietary program); Physical changes that considerably affect body composition and weight (e.g., anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, prolonged gastrointestinal and digestive disorders) during the study period.
Sites / Locations
- LKS Faculty of MedicineRecruiting
Arms of the Study
Arm 1
Arm 2
Arm 3
Experimental
Experimental
Other
Once-a-week Exercise
Thrice-a-week Exercise
Usual Care Control
Once-a-week vigorous-intensity exercise for 4 months.
Thrice-a-week vigorous-intensity exercise for 4 months.
Bi-weekly health education for 4 months.