Long‐term effect of exercise on improving fatty liver and cardiovascular risk factors in obese adults: A 1‐year follow‐up study

Exercise training can reduce hepatic fat accumulation and cardiovascular risk among patients with non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease ( NAFLD ), but how long these benefits extend beyond the period of active intervention is unclear. Intrahepatic triglyceride ( IHTG ) content, measured by proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy, and metabolic risk factors among 220 obese people with NAFLD , who were randomly assigned to vigorous/moderate exercise, moderate exercise or no exercise (control), were assessed at 1 year after the 12‐month exercise intervention. IHTG content was significantly reduced in the 2 exercise groups compared with the control group over the 12‐month active intervention. It was significantly lower (by −2.39%) in the vigorous/moderate exercise group compared with the control group at the 1‐year follow‐up (95% confidence interval −4.72 to −0.05%; P = .045). Waist circumference and blood pressure remained significantly lower in the vigorous/moderate exercise group and the moderate exercise group compared with the control group at the 1‐year follow‐up. Visceral adipose fat remained significantly reduced, but with no differences among 3 groups. These findings suggest 12‐month exercise intervention induced reductions in hepatic fat accumulation, abdominal obesity and blood pressure for up to 1 year after the active intervention, with some attenuation of the benefits.