ASSOCIATION OF LIFESTYLE MODIFICATION WITH LIVER HEALTH AMONG PATIENTS WITH NON ALCOHOLIC FATTY LIVER DISEASE AT A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL IN QUETTA

Abstract

Objective: To determine lifestyle modification practices (dietary habits, physical activity and weight management) among patients having non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and to evaluate their relation to the current health status of liver in a tertiary care hospital of Quetta. Background: Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) , the most common chronic liver disease worldwide, is closely connected to a sedentary lifestyle and a poor dietary routine, obesity. NAFLD affects almost 30% of adult population in Pakistan and significantly higher percentage adults, with metabolic comorbidities like diabetes and hypertension. Lifestyle modification is the mainstay of NAFLD management and data on practices and liver health outcomes among the population in the area particularly Balochistan province of Pakistan is limited. Department & Place of Study: Department of Medicine, Sandeman Provincial Hospital / Bolan Medical College, Quetta starting from April 10, 2026 to July 11, 2026. Methodology: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study that included 196 patients with ultrasound findings that were compatible with NAFLD using non-probability consecutive sampling. An interviewer administered questionnaire was used to assess adherence to dietary recommendations, physical activity and weight management. Normal, mild, moderate or severe liver health was determined according to the serum ALT values, steatosis grade on ultrasound, BMI and WC. SPSS version 23 was used for data analysis. Results: The mean age was 42.6 ± 11.8 years; 58.7% were male. Only 28.1% scored good on the dietary adherence and 22.4% scored good on the physical activity adherence. Liver health was normal in 18.9%, mild in 33.7%, moderate in 31.6% and severe in 15.8% of patients. An adequate diet adherence was strongly associated with liver health (p<0.001). Mean serum ALT levels showed a gradual rise (28.6 ± 7.2 U/L in the normal group to 89.4 ± 22.7 U/L in severe group, p< 0.001). Conclusion: NAFLD patients of Quetta showed high prevalence of poor dietary adherence and the high prevalence of physical inactivity was linked significantly with poor liver health. A need of the hour is to incorporate targeted lifestyle counselling as a routine part of NAFLD management, to minimise this burden of the disease in this population.