Fatty liver is no longer a disease found only in alcohol drinkers. Now more patients are being diagnosed with fatty liver disease, who have never drank even a sip of alcohol in their entire life.
It has gone so far that according to the ‘National Medical Journal of India’, the prevalence of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in India has been reported to be 9% to 53%. Moreover, MAFLD may not initially show any symptoms.
Symptoms of Fatty Liver
When a sudden accumulation of fat is found in the liver during a routine medical examination or imaging test, it is usually diagnosed as fatty liver disease. By the time symptoms like fatigue, upper abdominal pain or discomfort, and unexplained weight fluctuations begin to appear, liver disease may have progressed to a more serious stage. According to gastroenterologists, there has been a rise in fatty liver disease, and much of it can be linked to our lifestyle habits. Our sedentary lifestyle, long working hours, increasing habit of eating highly processed foods, and rising rates of obesity and diabetes are some of the main causes of fatty liver disease.”
Fatty liver occurs due to these reasons
Fatty liver is now often medically classified as ‘metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease’ (MASLD). It is a condition that is deeply linked to obesity, insulin resistance, high blood sugar and other metabolic risk factors. While fatty liver was traditionally linked to excessive alcohol consumption, new Indian data suggest that ‘non-alcoholic’ forms are much more common, and are primarily influenced by lifestyle, diet and metabolic health.
Identification is not done in the initial stages
Worryingly, fatty liver is often asymptomatic in the early stages, meaning many people do not realize they have the disease until complications develop. Liver fibrosis, a process that can eventually lead to cirrhosis or liver cancer, is already evident in some individuals, so experts stress the need for increased awareness, screening and preventive measures.