Overweight Children Are More Likely To Develop Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

Overweight children are significantly more likely to develop certain health issues, including an increased risk of heart disease as adults, type 2 diabetes and other weight-related health issues.

Now, recent findings published in the Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology examine potential links between nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and weight issues in a sample of 1,170 teenagers with an average age of 17.

While findings revealed that 15.2 percent of teens in the study were diagnosed with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, researchers noted significant links between 17-year-olds with and without nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.

The study results reiterated a link between greater adiposity trajectories from things such as skinfold thickness, body mass index (BMI), weight, mid-arm circumference and chest circumference in children three and till 17 when they were diagnosed with fatty liver disease and severity of hepatic steatosis, with a particular emphasis of the health problem seen in males. 

"Trajectories of childhood adiposity are associated with NAFLD," the study auhors concluded, via a news release. "Exploration of clinically relevant risk factors and preventative measures for NAFLD should begin during childhood."

For more great nature science stories and general news, please visit our sister site, Headlines and Global News (HNGN).