HIGHLIGHTED TOPIC Physiology and Pathophysiology of Physical Inactivity Does physical inactivity cause nonalcoholic fatty liver disease?

Rector RS, Thyfault JP. Does physical inactivity cause nonalcoholic fatty liver disease? J Appl Physiol 111: 1828–1835, 2011. First published May 12, 2011; doi:10.1152/japplphysiol.00384.2011.—While physical activity represents a key element in the prevention and management of many chronic diseases, we and others believe that physical inactivity is a primary cause of obesity and associated metabolic disorders. Unfortunately, accumulating evidence suggests that we have engineered physical activity out of our normal daily living activity. One such consequence of our sedentary and excessive lifestyle is nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), which is now considered the most common cause of chronic liver disease in Westernized societies. In this review, we will present evidence that physical inactivity, low aerobic fitness, and overnutrition, either separately or in combination, are an underlying cause of NAFLD.