Cardiorespiratory Fitness Reduces the Risk of Fatty Liver

When too much fat is present in the liver, it can hinder the organ’s ability to heal itself and filter toxins from the body. A new study finds that cardiorespiratory fitness is inversely related to the risk of fat build up in the liver. Researchers measured the cardiorespiratory fitness of 463 people using a cycle ergometer exercise test and determined fatty liver with the use of ultrasound. The researchers found that individuals with greater cardiorespiratory fitness were less likely to have a fatty liver, even after controlling for factors such as smoking, alcohol use, serum lipids, insulin, glucose, and C-reactive protein. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, May 2017