Research
Energy balance
Moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (150-200 minutes/week) reduces intrahepatic lipid and improves MASLD outcomes, with vigorous exercise offering full benefits for steatohepatitis and fibrosis.
Aim for 150-200 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity per week, spread over 3-5 sessions. This can include brisk walking, cycling, or running. If you have joint issues, resistance training is also effective. Exercise reduces liver fat even if you don't lose weight, so start moving regardless of scale changes.
GoodSupportsHIGH confidence
Regarding physical activity (PA), moderate-intensity aerobic PA... in 3–5 sessions for a total of 150–200 minutes per week is generally preferred and recommended... vigorous rather than moderate exercise, such as running, carries the full benefit, including for steatohepatitis and fibrosis.
Why this rating
Supported by RCTs, meta-analyses, and population studies.
Source
Treatment Options and Continuity of Care in Metabolic-associated Fatty Liver Disease: A Multidisciplinary Approach
Carmen Lara et al. · European Cardiology Review · 2024
DOI 10.15420/ecr.2023.34
narrative_reviewCited 16×
Read the paper DOI resolved against Crossref · corpus check 2026-06-10
More from this paper
- Weight loss of 7-10% is required to improve histological disease activity and features of MASLD, while 3-5% weight loss stabilizes or improves fibrosis in normal-weight patients.Good
- Adherence to a Mediterranean diet improves liver steatosis and metabolic parameters, and is the only diet pattern recommended as potential therapy for MASLD by major scientific societies.Good
- Excessive fructose consumption (e.g., >7 sugary drinks/week) is associated with hepatic fibrosis independent of calorie intake, and fructose-restricted diets decrease liver triglycerides.Good
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