Obesity bumps liver health in kids as well
New Delhi, Apr 05 (ANI): Turns out, obesity impacts liver health in not just adults, but kids as well. According to a new research conducted by the Columbia University Medical Center, gain may have a negative impact on liver health in children as young as 8-year-old. The study found that bigger waist circumference at the age of 3 raises the likelihood that by age 8, children will have markers for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease occurs when too much fat accumulates in the liver and triggers inflammation, causing liver damage. The condition affects an estimated 80 million people in the U.S. and is the most common chronic liver condition in children and adolescents. While the disease is generally symptomless, progression of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease can lead to cirrhosis (scarring) of the liver and, in some instances, liver cancer. The study appears in the Journal of Pediatrics.
