“Exercise and training in NAFLD and insulin resistance; psychological approach in humans”

Keywords: diabetes, non-alcoholic fatty liver (NAFL), prevention

Worldwide, 415 million adults have been diagnosed with diabetes. When fatty liver is caused by something other than excessive alcohol use it is known as non-alcoholic fatty liver (NAFL), which is an important risk factor for diabetes. An estimated 20% of the global population has NAFL and a staggering 50% of obese people have the disease. NAFL is often symptom-free, which makes it an underdiagnosed condition for which no treatment currently exists.

This dissertation found that men with NAFL have greatly reduced sugar sensitivity compared to diabetics. A twelve-week exercise and training programme improved sugar sensitivity and led to a sharp reduction in the amount of fat in the liver. First-line treatment to prevent diabetes should therefore be offered to people with NAFL.