Can one weekly workout beat fatty liver? new study tests the ideal exercise frequency

NCT ID NCT05741957

Ongoing Symptom relief Sponsor: The University of Hong Kong Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026

Summary

This study looks at whether exercising once a week or three times a week is better at reducing liver fat in adults who are centrally obese and have non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Three hundred Chinese adults aged 18-69 will be assigned to either a once-weekly or thrice-weekly supervised treadmill program for 4 months. The goal is to find the most practical exercise frequency that still meets health recommendations and helps improve liver health.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance: supervised treadmill exercise program
What this could lead to: If it works, this could show that even once-a-week exercise can meaningfully reduce liver fat, offering a practical option for busy people with NAFLD.
What could go wrong: This is a behavioral study with no blinding, so results may be influenced by participants' expectations. The effect may be modest and not apply to all NAFLD patients.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease Obesity obesity disorder Obesity, Abdominal Overweight

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

NON-ALCOHOLIC FATTY LIVER DISEASE OBESITY

Contacts and locations

Locations

LKS Faculty of Medicine

Hong Kong, Hong Kong

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