title: Physical activity and nutrition attitudes in obese Hispanic children with non-alcoholic steatohepatitis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess nutrition, physical activity and healthful knowledge in obese children with biopsy-proven non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH or NA) compared to children without liver disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  Children with biopsy-proven NASH comprised the NASH group. Age, sex and ethnicity matched control groups consisted of obese (OB) and lean (CO) children with no liver disease. Subjects were administered the School Physical Activity and Nutrition Survey and one blood draw was obtained.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fifty-seven patients were enrolled with a mean age of 12.1 ± 2.1 years, and all were Hispanic. Even though the OB and NA had a similar increased body mass index (%), 35% of the NA group always read nutrition labels compared to none in the OB (P < 0.05), and more NA children felt their diet is "less healthy". NA consumed the least amount of fruits with only 25% having ≥ 1 fruit/d vs 45% in OB and 64.7% in CO (P < 0.05 NA vs CO). Only 15% of NA subjects performed light exercise vs 35% and 59% of OB and CO groups, respectively (P = 0.02). The mean physical activity score was lowest in the NA group (P < 0.05). Amongst the subjects with NASH, we found that 100% of patients with grade 2 or 3 fibrosis had a sedentary score > 2 compared to only 63.6% of those with grade 1 or no fibrosis (P < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Children with NASH had increased se-dentary behavior, decreased activity, and fruit intake. Larger studies may determine the benefit of changing these behaviors as treatment for NASH.
authors: Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, United States. lhattar@yahoo.com
authors: Lana N
authors: LN
authors: Hattar
authors: Theresa A
authors: TA
authors: Wilson
authors: Leanel A
authors: LA
authors: Tabotabo
authors: E O'Brian
authors: EO
authors: Smith
authors: Stephanie H
authors: SH
authors: Abrams
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001294:Attitude to Health; D001519:Behavior; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002648:Child; D015444:Exercise; D005234:Fatty Liver; D005260:Female; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity; D065626:Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease; D009749:Nutrition Surveys; D009752:Nutritional Status; D009765:Obesity