association of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease severity with general and central obesity, and physical activity in adults

A nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (nafld) is one of the most common chronic liver diseases worldwide. many risk factors are associated with nafld, such as a sedentary lifestyle and obesity. this study aimed to investigate the association between disease severity, obesity, and physical activity levels in adults with nafld. a total of 280 adults with nafld were selected by a gastroenterologist using convenience sampling. nafld severity was assessed by ultrasound, and participants’ physical activity was evaluated using the short version of the international physical activity questionnaire. regarding nafld grade, 24.6% were grade 1, 63.2% were grade 2, and 12.2% were grade 3. the mean body mass index and waist circumference of the study participants were 29.19±4.14 kg/m2 and 100.99±9.24 cm, respectively. a significant positive relationship was observed between the degree of general obesity and nafld severity. as obesity increased, nafld severity also increased (p=0.045). a significant inverse relationship was observed between the level of physical activity and nafld grade (p=0.002). considering the association between nafld grade, obesity, and physical activity, it is recommended that health and educational programs be developed to promote a healthy lifestyle and physical activity to reduce the prevalence of obesity and nafld.