You might not know if you are among the approximately 30 percent of the population suffering from fatty liver disease, the most common liver condition in the Western world. It usually causes no symptoms aside from general fatigue – until it progresses into something more serious, such as liver cancer or cirrhosis.
If you do know you have fatty liver disease, you may find it difficult to make the radical change in diet and exercise habits usually prescribed as an antidote. However, an Israeli study has found that resistance training, and not only aerobic exercise, helps reduce liver fat as well as cholesterol.
“For patients suffering from physical limitations or low motivation that prevents them from performing aerobic exercises, resistance training can be an effective alternative,” said lead researcher Dr. Shira Zelber-Sagi from the School of Public Health at the University of Haifa.
Excessive weight, abdominal obesity, diabetes, dyslipidemia, and in particular triglycerides, increase the risk of developing fatty liver disease, when fat accounts for at least 5-10% of liver volume.
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