Impact of Change, Fluctuation, or Variability in Weight on the Risk of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in General Population: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Abstract

Background and Aim

Numerous studies on the impact of weight changes on nonalcoholic fatty liver disease are being conducted; therefore, this systematic review aims to critically discuss the impact of change, fluctuation, or variability in weight on the risk of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in the general population.

Methods

Data from three databases, PubMed/Medline, Google Scholar, and Scopus, which were available until June 2024, were used to compile the materials for our research. Only English-language publications were submitted for this study, and they were evaluated based on their titles, abstracts, and complete texts and.

Result

Eight studies (three cross-sectional articles and five cohort articles) involving 147,601 participants from Japan, China, Korea, and the United States were included. The results of this study showed that weight loss had significantly increased odds of developing NAFLD independently and per 1 kg compared to the stable weight control group. (OR = 1.16, 95% CI: 1.118–1.208, p < 0.0001, I² = 86%, OR = 1.186, 95% CI: 1.142–1.230, p < 0.0001, I² = 89.2%). The findings of seven articles indicated that the odds of experiencing NAFLD among patients with increased weight was 0.697 (OR = 0.697, 95% CI: 0.391–1.002, p < 0.0001, I² = 99.9%), suggesting a slightly reduced likelihood compared to the control group. The sensitivity analysis supported the robustness of the findings.

Conclusion

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease is increasing in industrialized nations and has a significant financial impact on people′s health and healthcare systems. It can be controlled by emphasis on reducing weight change and maintaining a healthy weight.