Children who often visit convenience stores and fast-food outlets near private academies had more severe fatty liver disease

[Financial News]  Children and adolescents who frequently use convenience stores, fast-food restaurants and snack bars around schools and private academies tended to have more severe fatty liver disease. The findings suggest that managing fatty liver disease during childhood and adolescence requires looking not only at the amount of food consumed but also at its quality and the food environment in children’s daily surroundings.
According to Bundang CHA Women’s Hospital at CHA University of Science and Technology on the 7th, a research team led by Professor Jeong Su-jin of the Department of Pediatrics compared eating habits and the extent of liver fat accumulation in 163 children and adolescents aged 6–18 who had been diagnosed with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) at seven medical institutions in South Korea.
The more severe the fatty liver disease, the lower the Korean Nutrition Quotient (NQ), which reflects the quality of eating habits. The average score was 59.3 in the mild group, compared with 54.2 in the moderate group and 52.9 in the severe group.
In particular, as fatty liver disease became more severe, children more often bought food from convenience stores, fast-food restaurants and snack bars around schools or private academies. The “moderation” score, which assesses how well they control their intake of sweet foods and drinks, fatty foods and the like, also fell from 59.1 in the mild group to 52.4 in the severe group. The “practice” score, measuring how well they put healthy eating into action, dropped over the same period from 67.6 to 54.7.
The research team said pediatric fatty liver disease should be managed by improving everyday eating environments while maintaining the nutrients needed for growth, rather than simply focusing on weight loss or food restriction.
Professor Jeong Su-jin said, “Rather than telling children not to eat specific foods, it is important for the whole family, including parents, to improve the eating environment together and help children consistently practice healthy eating habits.”
However, the study analyzed the association between eating habits and the severity of fatty liver disease, so it cannot establish that any particular eating habit directly causes the disease to worsen. The research team said further studies, including ones with a control group, are needed.
Meanwhile, the study was selected for the 36th Science and Technology Excellent Paper Award in 2026.


[email protected] Kim Kyung-a Reporter