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Comparison Between the Efficacy of Residential and Ambulatory Weight Loss Programs for Pediatric Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

Recruiting
Conditions
Pediatric Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease
Interventions
Behavioral: Lifestyle management
Registration Number
NCT05309863
Lead Sponsor
University Hospital, Ghent
Brief Summary

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has become the most prevalent chronic liver disease worldwide, paralleling the obesity pandemic. Secondary to increasing rates of obesity in children and adolescents, the prevalence of NAFLD has more than doubled in the last decades and is now the most common pediatric liver disease.

At present, lifestyle modification by dietary intervention and increasing physical activity is the mainstay of treatment for pediatric NAFLD. Several studies have shown that lifestyle intervention and weight loss improve non-invasive markers of NAFLD. To the investigator's knowledge, data on fibrosis regression following lifestyle treatment in children and adolescents were lacking. The investigators therefore performed a prospective cohort study to investigate the impact of residential lifestyle treatment on liver steatosis and fibrosis in obese children and adolescents.

As a follow-up, the investigators now aim to compare these findings with a cohort of well-characterized patients undergoing multidisciplinary, yet ambulatory, weight loss treatment. As such, the investigators will compare the outcomes in two prospective patient cohorts in this non-randomized observational study.

Detailed Description

Not available

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
RECRUITING
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
850
Inclusion Criteria
  • Enrolled in the lifestyle management program for obesity in one of the participating centres
Exclusion Criteria
  • Syndromic obesity
  • Evidence of liver disease of other causes (viral, auto-immune, genetic)
  • Average daily alcohol consumption of >20g/day
  • Unvalid screening Fibroscan
  • Treatment with drugs which can induce liver steatosis or fibrosis (e.g. systemic corticosteroids, methotrexate)

Study & Design

Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Study Design
Not specified
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Ambulatory treatmentLifestyle managementPatients in specific pediatric obesity care pathways will be included. Patients are treated according to standard of care in a multimodal ambulatory program focusing on increasing the level of physical activity, dietary intervention, acquiring healthy eating habits, and psychological support.
Residential treatmentLifestyle managementPatients administered for residential treatment of severe obesity will be included. Patients are treated according to standard of care in a multimodal program, focusing on increasing the level of physical activity, dietary intervention, acquiring healthy eating habits, and psychological support. Residential treatment is possible for a duration of maximum 1 year.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Improvement of liver fibrosis6 months of lifestyle intervention

Liver fibrosis will be quantified using Fibroscan, and patients will be divided into disease stages based on published cut-offs.

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Improvement in ALT12 months of lifestyle intervention

Proportion of patients with at least 30% decrease in serum ALT levels at follow-up, out of the patients with baseline elevated ALT

Improvement of liver fibrosis12 months of lifestyle intervention

Liver fibrosis will be quantified using Fibroscan, and patients will be divided into disease stages based on published cut-offs.

Resolution of liver steatosis12 months of lifestyle intervention

Liver steatosis will be quantified using controlled attenuation parameter on the Fibroscan. Resolution of steatosis is identified as CAP \<248 dB/m at follow-up in patients with baseline CAP of 248 dB/m or higher.

Improvement of liver steatosis12 months of lifestyle intervention

Liver steatosis will be quantified using controlled attenuation parameter on the Fibroscan

Resolution of liver fibrosis12 months of lifestyle intervention

Liver fibrosis will be quantified using Fibroscan. Resolution of fibrosis is identified as liver stiffness \<7.0 kPa at follow-up in patients with baseline liver stiffness of 7.0 kPa or higher.

Trial Locations

Locations (3)

University Hospital Gent

🇧🇪

Gent, East-Flanders, Belgium

Zeepreventorium

🇧🇪

De Haan, West-Flanders, Belgium

AZ Jan Palfijn

🇧🇪

Gent, East-Flanders, Belgium

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