Weight loss and alcohol reduction synergize for hepatic steatosis remission in elderly patients with metabolic alcohol-associated liver disease (MetALD): a retrospective cohort study
Authors' conclusion
In elderly patients with MetALD, weight loss >5% is strongly correlated with hepatic steatosis remission, while alcohol reduction exhibits a supra-additive synergistic association with weight loss for steatosis improvement.
Study context
- Population
- Elderly individuals (≥65 years) with MetALD, Zhejiang Province, China (2021–2023)
- Participants
- 46,570 individuals
- Exposure
- Changes in body weight and alcohol consumption
- Weight loss >5%n = 5,789
- Alcohol cessationn = 1,181
- Outcome
- Remission of hepatic steatosis
- Follow-up
- Two years
Methodological detailsmultivariable logistic regression, adjusted for potential confounders
- Multivariable logistic regression
- Adjusted for potential confounders
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Hepatic steatosis remission by change in body weight
Each group vs stable consumptionOR for remission (95% CI)
>5% weight loss
2.15(1.99–2.32)
1-5% weight loss
1.26(1.18–1.34)
Weight gain >5%
0.67(0.61–0.74)
- Overall remission rate for hepatic steatosis
- 22.64% (n = 10,543)
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Interaction between weight loss (>1%) and alcohol reduction (including cessation)
- Supra-additive synergistic interaction, OR
- 1.88 [1.74-2.03]
Remission in alcohol cessation with >5% weight loss
- Remission rate
- 37.66%
- OR
- 2.67 [1.69-4.29]
Original publication
Weight loss and alcohol reduction synergize for hepatic steatosis remission in elderly patients with metabolic alcohol-associated liver disease (MetALD): a retrospective cohort study. Int J Obes (Lond). Published 8 July 2026. doi:10.
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