Managing Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Through Structured Lifestyle Modification Interventions

Abstract

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a significant global health burden. It comprises a broad pathological spectrum ranging from simple liver steatosis to steatohepatitis with variable degrees of fibrosis, and liver failure. Patients with NAFLD have an increased risk of liver-related and overall mortality. While the trials to assess the efficacy of the medications are ongoing, lifestyle modification is the first line of therapy recommended. The primary aim of this review paper is to synthesize literature related to current evidence-based lifestyle interventions for preventing and managing NAFLD. The review and synthesis of the literature reveal that personalized nutritional, exercise, and behavior change interventions are effective in managing NAFLD. Evidence suggests that there are several gaps in managing NAFLD. The gaps discussed in this paper include a lack of awareness of the disease, ineffective patient-provider communication, shortage of specialists, under-recognition of the disease, and liver health disparities. This paper highlights the evidence-based opportunities to overcome those gaps, such as utilizing comprehensive models of care, clinical care pathways, and clinical practice guidelines. Primary care physicians and endocrinologists, who are the first point of contact must utilize these opportunities for diagnosing and managing patients with NAFLD.

Keywords: clinical care pathways; evidence-based clinical practice guidelines; gaps and opportunities; liver health disparities; models of care; nonalcoholic fatty liver diseases; personalized lifestyle interventions.

Figure 1.

Gaps and opportunities in managing nonalcoholic fatty liver disease JPEG.