Exercise and training in NAFLD and insulin resistance: psychological approach in humans

Worldwide, 415 million adults have been diagnosed with diabetes. When fatty liver is caused by something other than excessive alcohol use it is known as non-alcoholic fatty liver (NAFL), which is an important risk factor for diabetes. An estimated 20% of the global population has NAFL and a staggering 50% of obese people have the disease. NAFL is often symptom-free, which makes it an underdiagnosed condition for which no treatment currently exists. This dissertation found that men with NAFL have greatly reduced sugar sensitivity compared to diabetics. A twelve-week exercise and training programme improved sugar sensitivity and led to a sharp reduction in the amount of fat in the liver. First-line treatment to prevent diabetes should therefore be offered to people with NAFL.