Prevalence and Related Factors for Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in Obese Students

Background: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) occurs with the pathological accumulation of fat in the liver and is one of the most common liver disorders worldwide among adults and even children. Obesity is a risk factor for NAFLD. Objectives: Considering the increasing prevalence of obesity in Iran and worldwide, this study was conducted to determine the prevalence of NAFLD and its related factors in overweight and obese students of schools in Tehran, Iran. Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed on 115 overweight and obese students [body mass index (BMI) ≥ 25] with an age range of 7 - 17 years. Eligible individuals were classified into two groups with and without NAFLD. Liver ultrasonography and measurement of serum parameters, including fasting blood sugar, lipid profile, and liver enzymes, were performed. Next, the demographic and anthropometric characteristics were compared between the two groups. Results: Out of 115 studied students, 71 subjects were boys (61.7%). The results showed that the mean BMI in patients with fatty liver was significantly higher than in individuals without fatty liver (P = 0.03). According to our findings, the mean total cholesterol in NAFLD patients was significantly higher than in the group without NAFLD (P = 0.008). The univariate logistic regression model results for measuring factors related to fatty liver in students showed a significant positive correlation between male gender, BMI, total cholesterol, aspartate aminotransferase, and alanine aminotransferase. Conclusions: NAFLD is a substantial problem in school children and correlates with elevated BMI. Therefore, the measurement of BMI can be used as a useful predictor and screening tool for NAFLD in school children.