Abstract: To study the relationship between nonalcoholic fatty liver (NASH) , intra-abdominal obesity and insulin resistance Visceral adipose tissue areas (VA) and abdominal subcutaneous adipose areas (SA) were measured in 87 persons by using computed tomography (CT) weight (kg) , high (m) , serum glucose (FPG) , lipid and insulin (FINS) were also measured Insulin action index (IAI, =-ln (FPG·FINS) ) and body mass index (BMI, =kg/m 2) were calculated The subjects were cases with NASH (n=30) , while the controls without NASH (n=57) Thirty casses of NASH among 87 cases were diagnosed by both CT and ultrasound scan The rates of NASH seemed to be higher in boese (41 18%) than in non-obese (10 53%, x 2=6 17, p <0 025) The VA ( x ± s , cm 2) of obese with NASH (male:138 2±53 7 femal:142 6±31 2) were significantly higher than that without NASH (male:105 8±29 6 femal:117 4±33 1 t =2 72, 2 31 P <0 01, 0 05 ) There was significant difference between obese with NASH and without NASH in IAI (t=1 98 P <0 05) NASH was associated with obesity, especially with intra-abdominal obesity Insulin resistance may play a role in the pathogenesis of NASH with fatty