Research

Mixed

Greater weight loss (≥10%) is associated with a greater reduction in HVPG, and higher physical activity levels (METs) are associated with greater HVPG reduction, suggesting independent benefits of weight loss and exercise on portal pressure.

While the intervention is safe for all, patients aiming for maximum portal pressure reduction should target at least 10% body weight loss and engage in higher volumes of physical activity (measured in METs), as these factors are independently associated with greater improvements in hepatic hemodynamics.

ModerateQualifiesMEDIUM confidence
A ≥10% body weight loss was associated with a greater decrease in HVPG (-23.7±19.9% vs. -8.2±16.6%, p=0.024)... A more intense physical activity, namely above the median of the study group (METs: 400.5 over 16 weeks)... was associated with a more marked decrease in HVPG
Annalisa Berzigotti et al. · Hepatology · 2016

Why this rating

Observational analysis within a pilot study; correlation does not prove causation, but the trend is statistically significant.

Source

Effects of an intensive lifestyle intervention program on portal hypertension in patients with cirrhosis and obesity: The SportDiet study

Annalisa Berzigotti et al. · Hepatology · 2016

DOI 10.1002/hep.28992

cohort · n=60Cited 326×
Read the paper
DOI resolved against Crossref · corpus check 2026-06-10

This is one finding among thousands. Every one is graded and traced to its source, so you can see what the evidence actually supports. Browse the research →