Move more for your body. We know that movement can help to strengthen our muscles, but we rarely think of liver health and exercise. It is easy to miss the first signs of liver issues. Many liver problems reflect lifestyle habits such as what we do and what we eat. These can cause scar tissue to develop on the liver as it accumulates fat. It also can get inflamed, causing more liver damage.
Liver disease is a growing concern. Alcohol is responsible for many cases of fatty liver disease, but fatty livers also occur in those who do not drink. Fatty liver disease not due to alcohol afflicts over 25% of adults worldwide. 10% of children have fatty liver disease also!
New research indicates it may be our low levels of activity.
Most liver issues occur in those who are obese, so weight loss is the top recommendation to reverse fatty liver disease. A new study suggests that daily movement is key for liver health.
The researchers helped individuals with fatty liver disease start an exercise habit. After 12 weeks, liver biopsies revealed that exercise had started to reverse their disease status! Although they were not fully cured by working out, most showed less liver scaring (fibrosis) and lower inflammation.
Body fat raises the risk of fatty liver disease, but this condition also occurs in some who do not have excess weight. Genetics, diet, alcohol use, and physical activity are contributing factors.
Doctors are trained to counsel patients with fatty liver disease about the need for weight loss. Exercise is an important part of the solution! When we move more, we reduce our chances of this disease even before we start to lose a significant amount of body fat. This idea is supported by the study mentioned above. This explains why the lead author of the study says that their results highlight an “urgent unmet need to … continually engage in exercise.”
No matter what size you are, motion is the potion! Your liver will thank you!
As Treo’s Global Wellness Researcher, Karlie uses recent research findings to support healthier daily habits. Karlie earned her doctorate in Neuroscience and Behavior and bachelors in Health and Exercise Science.
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