Advancing the global public health agenda for NAFLD: a consensus statement

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a potentially serious liver disease that affects approximately one-quarter of the global adult population, causing a substantial burden of ill health with wide-ranging social and economic implications. It is a multisystem disease and is considered the hepatic component of metabolic syndrome. Unlike other highly prevalent conditions, NAFLD has received little attention from the global public health community.

 New Year, New Name: NAFLD becomes MASLD

We now know that NAFLD/MASLD can co-exist with other types of liver disease, including alcoholic liver disease, and many concerns have been raised over the last few decades that “[NAFLD] trivialized the disease and ... would sometimes make patients feel bad to hear ‘fatty’ or a tie to alcohol.” There was also hope that this new label would spur needed research into a condition with limited treatment options that is rapidly increasing in prevalence across the developed world.

 Renamed, common liver diseases might get fairer shake at treatment, researchers hope

Renamed, common liver diseases might get fairer shake at treatment, researchers hop. A group of over 200 physicians, public health experts, industry representatives, regulatory officials, and patient advocates made the call in a supermajority vote: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, or NAFLD, would be renamed metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease. MASLD for short (pronounced MAA-zuld).

Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease & NASH

Usually, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) cause few or no symptoms. Certain health conditions—including obesity, metabolic syndrome, and type 2 diabetes—make you more likely to develop NAFLD and NASH.

Looming Epidemics: Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) and Non-Alcoholic Steatohepatitis (NASH)

“It is imperative to understand that NAFLD and NASH are conditions that cannot be taken lightly. The damage to the liver is a real medical problem that in many cases can be life threatening. What is even more alarming is that victims of this disease typically do not even know they have it—in fact, it can go undetected for years. Therefore, bringing awareness to the condition within the community is of utmost importance.”

Does My Liver Look Fat in This?

“Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is currently the most common liver disease in most of the Western world, affecting 30 percent of adults and 10 percent of children — and this number is growing,” warns Tamar Taddei, M.D., associate professor of medicine, section of digestive diseases at the Yale School of Medicine and a member of the American Liver Foundation’s medical advisory committee.

Fatty Liver

Unchecked, the disease can lead to liver transplant and possible fatality. The good news is that in the vast majority of cases, fatty liver can be managed, or even reversed, through a few simple action steps.

Fatty Liver Disease: More Prevalent in Children

The disease's prevalence is alarming doctors who worry about its progression to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, or NASH, when the fatty liver becomes inflamed and cells are damaged. That leads to the end stage of cirrhosis, when the liver forms scar tissue and ultimately stops working.

Fatty Liver Is More Dangerous Than You Might Realize. Here’s How to Heal It

What’s so bad about having a fatty liver? Well, among its numerous repercussions include inflammation, which triggers insulin resistance and pre-diabetes, meaning your body deposits fat in your liver and organs including your belly (called visceral fat).

Threat Grows From Liver Illness Tied to Obesity

Despite major gains in fighting hepatitis C and other chronic liver conditions, public health officials are now faced with a growing epidemic of liver disease that is tightly linked to the obesity crisis.

What's the Big Deal About a Fatty Liver?

For those patients who have been diagnosed with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, it is the leading cause of chronic liver disease in the United States and other Western countries.

Is Fatty Liver Disease the New Diabetes?

Horton says those who are prediabetic or are overweight or obese should especially take notice of this study, given that fatty liver disease is so closely associated with the two.

To Fight Fatty Liver, Avoid Sugary Foods and Drinks

Children with fatty liver disease sharply reduced the amount of fat and inflammation in their livers by cutting soft drinks, fruit juices and foods with added sugars.

30% of Americans Have This Obesity-Related Disease

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, or NAFLD, is an umbrella term for several stages of disease. Most people with NAFLD have what’s known as simple fatty liver, which means that more than 5% of the liver is made up of fat cells. (Fat in the liver can also be a product of heavy alcohol use, which is known as alcoholic fatty liver disease.)

Can You Reverse Fatty Liver?

The short answer is yes. Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, which affects about one in five adults in the United States, is tightly linked to the obesity epidemic. There are no drugs to treat the disease, so most clinicians recommend that patients focus on lifestyle changes that produce weight loss, like diet and exercise, to improve their prognoses. Unchecked, fatty liver disease can lead to liver failure.

Experts warn of fatty liver disease 'epidemic' in young people

Study finds substantial numbers of young people at risk of liver cancer, diabetes and heart attacks.

Fatty liver disease: What it is and what to do about it

There are lots of medical terms related to fatty liver disease, and it can get confusing. The main medical umbrella term NAFLD refers to a fatty liver that is not related to alcohol use. NAFLD is further divided into two groups: Non-alcoholic fatty liver (NAFL), otherwise known as simple fatty liver, or Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH)

The Effects of Physical Exercise on Fatty Liver Disease

The increasing prevalence of obesity has made nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) the most common chronic liver disease. As a consequence, NAFLD and especially its inflammatory form nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) are the fastest increasing etiology of end-stage liver disease and hepatocellular carcinoma.

To Fight Fatty Liver, Avoid Sugary Foods and Drinks

Children with fatty liver disease sharply reduced the amount of fat and inflammation in their livers by cutting soft drinks, fruit juices and foods with added sugars.

Treatment for obesity and fatty liver disease may be in reach

Researchers have discovered 27 new molecules. These molecules all activate a special protein called PPAR-delta and have the potential to treat fatty liver disease, obesity, diabetic nephrotoxicity, and to heal wounds.

Uncovering the genetic causes of fatty liver disease — a growing health concern

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is a disease that affects, on average, one in four adults and nearly one in 10 children worldwide. The disease progresses from reversible to irreversible stages. The first stage is defined by the presence of steatosis (excessive accumulation of lipids in the liver to at least five per cent of the total liver mass). The next stage, which is also reversible, is characterized by inflammation of the liver cells (called hepatocytes). This inflammation may be accompanied by scar tissue (called fibrosis).

Why fatty liver disease is on the rise

Fatty liver disease was once seen mostly in heavy drinkers. Now, at least a third of adults in Canada have it—and it’s hard to diagnose

Why You Might Get Liver Disease Even If You’re Not Much of a Drinker

Experts consider this the next epidemic.