ABSTRACT
This chapter examines interactions between physical activity and some clinically important chronic hepatic disorders, including the metabolic syndrome, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), various types of hepatic inflammation and resulting fibrosis, cirrhosis and hepatic carcinoma, as well as issues of liver transplantation. It looks specifically at the role of inadequate habitual physical activity in the genesis and progression of these various syndromes, and will consider appropriate exercise recommendations for the prevent ion and treatment of such disorders. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) was first described in 1980. Liver biopsy and histological assessment provide gold standards for the diagnosis of NAFLD, but in human research the liver fat content is more commonly inferred from proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy or computed tomography. Adipose tissue also manifests insulin resistance in NAFLD. Any given secretion of insulin becomes less effective in increasing muscle glucose uptake and in suppressing the release of fatty acids from fat.
