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Assessment of Diet and Physical Activity in Paediatric Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Patients: A United Kingdom

Philippa S Gibson1, Sarah Lang2,3, Marianne Gilbert4

  • 1Nutritional Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Surrey, Guildford GU2 7XH, UK. pippa.s.gibson@gmail.com.

Nutrients
|December 26, 2015
PubMed

Insights

Children with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) showed more restrained eating behaviors and higher daily steps than obese peers. Current general health guidelines, not specific ones, are recommended for managing pediatric NAFLD.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Gastroenterology and Hepatology
  • Childhood Obesity and Metabolic Disorders
  • Nutritional Epidemiology

Background:

  • Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the leading cause of pediatric chronic liver disease, with rising prevalence linked to obesity.
  • Understanding dietary and activity patterns in pediatric NAFLD is crucial for effective management strategies.
  • Existing research lacks detailed characterization of these behaviors in UK children with NAFLD.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To compare habitual diet and physical activity behaviors between UK children diagnosed with NAFLD and obese children without liver disease.
  • To identify specific behavioral factors that may contribute to or be associated with NAFLD development in children.

Main Methods:

  • A comparative study involving 24 biopsy-proven pediatric NAFLD cases and 8 obese controls.
  • Data collection included 24-h dietary recalls, Physical Activity Questionnaire (PAQ), Dutch Eating Behavior Questionnaire (DEBQ), and 7-day food and activity diaries (FAD) with pedometers.
  • Statistical analysis controlled for age, gender, and BMI z-scores to compare nutrient intake, eating behaviors, and physical activity levels.

Main Results:

  • No significant differences in macronutrient or micronutrient intake were found between groups after adjusting for BMI.
  • Children with NAFLD exhibited significantly higher restrained eating behaviors compared to obese controls.
  • Pediatric NAFLD patients recorded a higher average number of daily steps than their obese counterparts.

Conclusions:

  • This study is the first to detail dietary and activity patterns in UK pediatric NAFLD patients.
  • Findings suggest that current general pediatric health recommendations for diet and physical activity should be prioritized over specialized guidelines for NAFLD.
  • Restrained eating and increased physical activity (steps) are noted characteristics in pediatric NAFLD, warranting further investigation.

Keywords:
adolescencechildreneating behaviournon-alcoholic fatty liver diseasenutritionobesityphysical activity

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