"Even Underweight Individuals with High Fat Mass Are at Risk of Fatty Liver"

Professor Kim Hwiyoung of Ewha Mokdong Hospital Gastroenterology Department "Body Fat Percentage Is an Important Indicator"

[Asia Economy Reporter Seo So-jeong] A study has found that even individuals with a normal or low body weight have a higher risk of developing fatty liver if their relative fat mass is high.

The research team led by Professor Kim Hwi-young of the Department of Gastroenterology at Ewha Mokdong Hospital conducted a follow-up analysis on over 9,000 adult health screening participants with an average age of 45, who initially had no fatty liver. They were divided into four groups based on body mass index (BMI): underweight, normal weight, overweight, and obese.

According to the research team, fat mass was found to be a more useful indicator than muscle mass in predicting the occurrence of fatty liver. Even without obesity, an increase in fat mass combined with a decrease in muscle mass raised the risk of fatty liver. Additionally, individuals with normal or even low body weight showed higher rates of fatty liver when fat mass increased.

Professor Kim stated, “This study confirmed that body fat percentage (relative fat mass) is an important indicator for predicting fatty liver occurrence, regardless of obesity status. If fat mass increases over a short period, the risk of fatty liver rises even without obesity, so it is necessary to prevent fat mass gain through lifestyle modifications, even for those with normal body weight.”

The study was recently published in the international journal Scientific Reports, a sister journal of Nature.

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