Physical activity and nutrition attitudes in obese Hispanic children with non-alcoholic steatohepatitis

AIM:To assess nutrition,physical activity and health-ful knowledge in obese children with biopsy-proven nonalcoholic steatohepatitis(NASH or NA)compared to children without liver disease.METHODS:Children with biopsy-proven NASH comprised the NASH group.Age,sex and ethnicity matched control groups consisted of obese(OB)and lean(CO) children with no liver disease.Subjects were adminis-tered the School Physical Activity and Nutrition Survey and one blood draw was obtained.RESULTS:Fifty-seven patients were enrolled with a mean age of 12.1±2.1 years,and all were Hispanic.Even though the OB and NA had a similar increased body mass index(%),35%of the NA group always read nutrition labels compared to none in the OB(P<0.05),and more NA children felt their diet is"less healthy".NA consumed the least amount of fruits with only 25%having≥1 fruit/d vs 45%in OB and 64.7% in CO(P<0.05 NA vs CO).Only 15%of NA subjects performed light exercise vs 35%and 59%of OB and CO groups,respectively(P=0.02).The mean physical activity score was lowest in the NA group(P<0.05).Amongst the subjects with NASH,we found that 100% of patients with grade 2 or 3 fibrosis had a sedentary score>2 compared to only 63.6%of those with grade 1 or no fibrosis(P<0.05).CONCLUSION:Children with NASH had increased sedentary behavior,decreased activity,and fruit intake.Larger studies may determine the benefit of changing these behaviors as treatment for NASH.