Brief Article
Copyright ©2011 Baishideng Publishing Group Co., Limited. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Oct 21, 2011; 17(39): 4396-4403
Published online Oct 21, 2011. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v17.i39.4396
Physical activity and nutrition attitudes in obese Hispanic children with non-alcoholic steatohepatitis
Lana N Hattar, Theresa A Wilson, Leanel A Tabotabo, E O’Brian Smith, Stephanie H Abrams
Lana N Hattar, Leanel A Tabotabo, Stephanie H Abrams, Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, United States
Lana N Hattar, Theresa A Wilson, Leanel A Tabotabo, E O’Brian Smith, Stephanie H Abrams, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, United States
Author contributions: Hattar LN and Abrams SH designed the research; Hattar LN, Tabotabo LA and Abrams SH performed the research; Wilson TA contributed with the School Physical Activity and Nutrition Survey questionnaire experience-analytic tools; Hattar LN, Smith EO and Abrams SH analyzed the data; and Hattar LN and Abrams SH wrote the paper with other authors as members of the writing committee.
Supported by National Institute of Health [NIH K12 RR 17665 (Morey Haymond, MD (PI); C Wayne Smith, MD (Mentor)]
Correspondence to: Lana N Hattar, MD, Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, United States. lhattar@yahoo.com
Telephone: +1-316-2688040 Fax: +1-316-2914880
Received: February 13, 2011
Revised: April 21, 2011
Accepted: April 28, 2011
Published online: October 21, 2011
Abstract

AIM: 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).

CONCLUSION: 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.

Keywords: Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis; Hispanic; Pediatric; Nutrition; Physical activity; School physical activity; Nutrition survey