Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Risk Identification and Perceptions of Obese and Non-Obese People

Abd El-Aal, Bahiga Galal; Elabassy, Amal Abdel-Hameed; Elzyen, Elham; Nawaya, Ghada Shaban

doi:10.21608/menj.2025.440392

Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Risk Identification and Perceptions of Obese and Non-Obese People

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Professor of Family and Community Health Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Menoufia University, Egypt.

² Assistant Professor of Family and community Health Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Menoufia University, Egypt.

³ M. Sc. in Nursing, National Liver Institution, Menoufia University

10.21608/menj.2025.440392

Abstract

Abstract: Background: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common chronic liver disease. It is a major risk factor for liver related morbidity and mortality. Obesity is the main risk factors of non-alcoholic fatty liver. High level perception of non-alcoholic fatty liver risk factors is critical in developing measures to prevent progression of the disease. Purpose: To identify non-alcoholic fatty liver risk and perceptions of obese and on-obese people. Design: Descriptive comparative design. Sampling and setting: Purposive sample of 75 obese and 75 non-obese participants that were chosen from two randomly selected non-health related faculties affiliated to Menoufia University, Egypt. Instruments: Two instruments were used (sociodemografic characteristics and fatty liver index, Risk Perception Likert Scale of NAFL). Results: The mean FLI was 75.3±20.4 for obese and 25.2±21.9 for non-obese. Also, 74.7% of obese had high level risk for NAFLD, with FLI ≥ 60 while, 73.3 % of non-obese had low level of risk for NAFLD with FLI <30; with statistically significant difference between them based on F LI categories. Moreover, 89.30% of obese and 98.70% of non-obese had low level of perception about NAFLD risk factors, with statistically significant difference between them. BMI was positively correlated with Triglyceride, Gamma-glutamyl Transferase and FLI. Conclusion: Obese participants were at higher risk for non-alcoholic fatty liver. Both obese and non-obese people had low level of perception of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Recommendations: public perception and awareness toward NAFLD should be enhanced. Noninvasive methods are needed for early identification of people at risk for NAFLD considering anthropometric measurement as indicator of risk.

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