Background: To examine the association between sitting time and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease among South Koreans aged ≥20 years.
Methods: Data from the 2016-2018 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey were used for the analysis. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease was diagnosed according to a hepatic steatosis index of > 36. Sitting time was categorized into as Q1, Q2, Q3, and Q4 using the age-adjusted quartile with Q4 being the longest sitting hour. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to examine the association between sitting time and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in South Korean population.
Results: A total of 13,518 participants were enrolled. The odds for having NAFLD in Q1, Q2, Q3, and Q4 (sitting hours) were 1.07 (CI: 0.88-1.31), 1.16 (CI: 1.96-1.41), and 1.34 (CI: 1.11-1.61), respectively. The odds ratio increased in magnitude with longer hours of sitting time (test for trend: P-value = 0.0002).
Conclusion: Advising physical exercises and discouraging sedentary activities may help to alleviate NAFLD among the South Korean population.
Keywords: Hepatic steatosis index; Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease; Obesity; Physical activity; Sedentary; Sitting time; South Korea.