title: The prevalence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and its association with lifestyle/dietary habits among university faculty and staff in Chengdu.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the prevalence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in different university categories and its association with lifestyle/dietary habits.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study was carried out on 9 378 faculty members and staff who participated in an annual health checkup at three universities selected by random cluster sampling. Demographic, anthropometric, biochemical indices and abdominal ultrasound measurements were collected. A nested case-control study was conducted with 200 NAFLD cases and 200 controls matched by gender, age (±3 years), and university.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The overall prevalence of NAFLD was 10.3% (13.7% in males and 6.8% in females). The prevalence was significantly higher in the science and engineering university (22.1%) than in the comprehensive universities with (6.4%) and without (10.9%) medical colleges. Obesity/overweight, hyperlipidemia, diabetes mellitus, and family history of NAFLD were independently associated with higher risk of NAFLD, as were frequent consumption of desserts and salty/spicy foods. Using nutritional supplements was a protective factor against NAFLD. Intake of coarse cereals, potatoes, vegetables, fruits, and milk was significantly lower, and intake of red meat, viscera, candies and pastries, cooking oil, and total energy was significantly higher in participants with NAFLD than in controls.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Science and engineering university faculty and staff are key targets for NAFLD prevention. NAFLD is closely associated with age, gender, university type, metabolic diseases, and lifestyle/dietary habits.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition and Food Safety, West China School of Public Health, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan, China.
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.forename: Zhong Wu
authors.initials: ZW
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Yun
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Cai
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gong
authors.forename: Huan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Li Juan
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: Cheng Yu
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Ming
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005234:Fatty Liver / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D065626:Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology; D050177:Overweight / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult