If you have type 2 diabetes and exercise regularly, you may be trimming more than your waistline. According to a new study, regular exercise may also shrink hidden—and potentially harmful—fat in your liver.
Research shows that many people with type 2 diabetes also have excess liver fat, a condition called nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). This buildup of fat is often related to obesity and doesn't always cause problems. But if it results in liver inflammation and scarring, it can lead to liver failure, liver cancer and a higher risk of diabetes-related heart disease. NAFLD affects people of all ages, and most don't know they have it. Researchers estimate that up to 70 percent of people with type 2 diabetes are affected, and the rate goes up to 95 percent among those who are also obese.
Interestingly, NAFLD has been recognized as a disease only since 1980, and scientists are actively studying its causes, complications and treatments. But what's clear is that the fat we see in the mirror may not be the only fat we need to worry about.
In the new study, researchers looked at whether regular exercise could trim liver fat among people with type 2 diabetes who were overweight or obese. They divided 77 adults into two groups. One group did 45 minutes of moderate aerobic exercise three times a week. They could bike, run on a treadmill or take brisk walks. They also lifted weights for around 20 minutes three times a week. People in the second group were given general advice about the benefits of physical activity but were asked not to join an exercise program.
After six months, MRI scans of 44 of the participants showed that the level of liver fat in the exercise group had dropped dramatically (up to 40 percent for some people). It was unchanged, however, in the group that didn't exercise.
What you need to know. Here's the skinny: We already know that exercise can play an important role in maintaining good health if you have type 2 diabetes. It can help you lose weight, keep down your blood glucose level and also make you feel good. This study suggests another possible benefit. So, if you're not already in an exercise habit, why not dust off your walking shoes? Your liver may thank you.
—Sophie Ramsey, patient editor, BMJ Group
ConsumerReportsHealth.org has partnered with The BMJ Group to monitor the latest medical research and assess the evidence to help you decide which news you should use.
Read more about the perks of exercise and check out our Treatment Ratings for type 2 diabetes.
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