Children who spend more than six hours a day sitting around have a greater risk of fatty liver disease as young adults The odds increase 15% for every additional half-hour of sedentary behavior Light physical activity counters this risk TUESDAY, June 4, 2024 (HealthDay News) -- Kids who spend more than six hours a day on their duffs have a greater risk of severe fatty liver disease and liver cirrhosis by the time they’re young adults, a new study claims. Children have 15% higher odds of fatty liver disease by age 25 for each additional half-hour of sedentary behavior above 6 hours daily, researchers found. However, researchers also found a protective effect from light physical activity.
The odds of severe fatty liver disease declined by 33% for each additional half-hour of light-intensity activity beyond three hours a day, researchers found. “The most effective antidote to the devastating health effects of childhood sedentariness is not the much-advertised moderate-to-vigorous physical activity of 60 minutes per day,” said lead researcher Dr. Andrew Agbaje , an associate professor of epidemiology and child health with the University of Eastern Finland.
“Rather, it is the overlooked light-intensity physical activity of 3 to 4 hours per day.” Examples of light-intensity physical activity are outdoor games, playing at the playground, walking a dog, running errands for parents or walking and biking, researchers said. For the study, researchers analyzed data from nearly .
