Comparing vigorous and moderate exercise to reduce liver fat in obese adults with NAFLD

Is this trial a fit for you?

A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.

What this trial studies

This study investigates the effectiveness of vigorous versus moderate-intensity exercise in reducing liver fat in adults with obesity and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Participants will be randomly assigned to either a vigorous or moderate exercise regimen, both aligned with the World Health Organization's physical activity recommendations. The goal is to determine if vigorous exercise can provide similar benefits to moderate exercise while requiring less time commitment. This research aims to establish evidence-based exercise guidelines for managing NAFLD, which currently lacks licensed drug treatments.

Why it matters

Who can join: the full rules

Inclusion Criteria:

* Cantonese, Mandarin, or English-speaking Chinese,
* aged 18-69,
* centrally obese according to the Asia-specific cut-off (waist circumference 90 cm for males, 80 cm for females) and BMI ≥23 (i.e., overweight as defined by the Hong Kong government),
* with NAFLD (defined as \>5% intrahepatic triglycerides assessed by 1H-MR spectroscopy),
* able to perform the prescribed exercise program. Both men and women will be included to enhance generalizability.

Exclusion Criteria:

* regular exercise training (\>3 sessions of \>60 min of moderate-intensity exercise training weekly) in the past 6 months,
* medical history of cardiovascular disease, chronic pulmonary or kidney disease, heart failure, cancer, and/or liver disease except NAFLD,
* somatic conditions that limit exercise participation (e.g., limb loss),
* impaired mobility due to chronic disease (e.g., chronic arthritis/osteoarthritis, neurological, musculoskeletal, and autoimmune diseases),
* daily smoking habit,
* excess alcohol consumption (daily ≥20 g of alcohol for men and ≥10 g for women) in the past 1 year,
* consumption of certain drugs (e.g., tamoxifen and estrogen) known to be secondary causes of steatosis,
* surgery and therapy for morbid obesity in the past 6 months and during the study period (e.g., gastric bypass, gastric band, sleeve gastrectomy, gastric reduction duodenal switch, or dietitian-prescribed dietary program).

Where it's running

• LKS Faculty of Medicine
  Hong Kong, Hong Kong Recruiting

Study contacts

• Principal investigator: Parco M Siu, PhD — LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong
• Study coordinator: Parco M Siu, PhD
• Email: pmsiu@hku.hk
• Phone: 28315262

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How to take part

1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
2. Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
3. Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.