For your liver: eat less, with or without exercise
A study published yesterday in the Journal of Obesity(1) reports the following observation: for people with visceral obesity who reduce their calorie intake, then doing sportswould have little or no influenceon the amount of fatpresent in the liver.
It was Eiichi Yoshimura who conducted the research to reach this conclusion, which goes against the tide of what his team initially imagined, and which also goes against the current of studies that had shown the opposite(3,4)
Conduct of the study
The study took place on a fairly small panel: only 33 people, all with visceral obesity. These people were separated into two groups:
»A second group of 18 people, also reducing their calorie
intake but doing in addition to exercise (specifically cycling and running)
The amount of calories ingested by each person was strict: 25 kcal per kilogram (depending on the assumed ideal weight(2) of each individual).
Regarding the group doing the exercise, it was at least 300 minutes distributed:
- » In three one-hour sessions, supervised over 3 days of the week
- » In one (or more) home sessions, lasting at least 120 minutes.
That is 5 hours minimum / week, for 12 consecutive weeks. The exercises were of sufficient intensity as participants reached at least the lactate threshold. In a more simplified way, i.e. they were about 80% of their maximum heart rate.
Results: consequences on the liver of individuals
By the end of the study, the fat present in the liver of each of the participants had decreased significantly. On the other hand, for the group that was required to exercise regularly, this had no statistical impact compared to the other group.
Why such a study?
The consequences of a “non-alcoholic fatty liver” include an increased risk of cardiovascular disease and insulin insensitivity (insulin resistance). Attention to it is therefore important.
Several previous studies had made it possible to obtain certain clear links linked to physical exercise, the reduction of calorie intake and fat in general. Here is what was demonstrated:
- 1. When regular physical exercises are performed by the individual, then fat loss is seen in the liver.
- 2. When the quantity of calories ingested is better regulated by the individual, then a loss of fat is observed at the visceral level (as well as at the level of the liver).
- 3. When the quantity of calories ingested is better regulated by the individual and when regular physical exercises are carried out by the individual, then a loss of fat is observed at the level of the liver as well as at the visceral level.
- 4. Regarding visceral fat, it is more effective to accompany your diet with physical exercise.
However, even if this last finding is true for visceral fat, the researchers wanted to check whether the finding was also valid for liver fat.
Limitations and conclusion
If the two groups lost fat in the liver, those who exercised did not have significant benefits at this level ( be careful, the study is only focused on the liver ).
However, an admitted limitation of this clinical study is that not all participants who exercised did their 5 hours per week. When some were up to 9 hours a week, others only did 3 hours.
Eiichi Yoshimura also indicates that there is not yet a real consensus on the subject because studies (3,4) have already contradicted this discovery.
However, even if the role of physical exercise is still to be specified regarding fat loss in the liver, the fact remains that a calorie reduction seems to be and remain the most effective method. Remember that excess fat in the liver can lead to damage to the body over the years.
Stephen Paul is the lead author and founder of My Health Sponsor. Holder of a diploma in health and well-being coaching with more than 200 articles in the field of health, he makes it a point of honor to offer advice based on reliable information, based on scientific research, and verified by health professionals.