One In Three Indians May Have Fatty Liver – Could You Be At Risk?

According to the World Health Organisation, fatty liver is ‘one of the fastest-growing causes of chronic liver disease’. It is estimated to affect 1.7 billion individuals globally, with high prevalence across all age groups.

Fatty liver is when there’s too much fat in your liver. Your liver is the body’s main organ for processing food and waste materials.

Excess fat builds up in the liver, causing a disorder known as metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease, or MAFLD.

Obesity, diabetes, insulin resistance, hypertension, and other metabolic disorders are associated with it.

MAFLD is essentially a metabolic illness, in contrast to liver diseases brought on by viral infections or heavy alcohol usage.

One in three Indians may have fatty liver disease, according to a thorough meta-analysis of over 23,000 Indian adults, which found that 38.6% of them had the condition.

According to the Phenome India-CSIR cohort, which included participants from 27 Indian cities, between 36 and 48 per cent of people fit the MAFLD criteria.

Repeated liver damage activates hepatic stellate cells to deposit collagen, creating scar tissue known as fibrosis.

While initially reversible, remaining fibrosis leads to cirrhosis, liver failure, and cancer.

As the severity of fibrosis, now widespread in India, predicts liver failure and mortality far more accurately than fat volume alone, it remains a primary clinical concern. This progression can eventually lead to MASH, fibrosis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular cancer.

While fat buildup often remains symptomless for years, it can cause vague symptoms like fatigue, abdominal heaviness, and sleep issues.

Advanced fibrosis may trigger muscle loss, fluid retention, jaundice, and gastrointestinal bleeding.

Prevention:

To prevent fatty liver disease, it is essential to follow some healthy lifestyle habits recommended for managing the condition. This includes:

1. Eating a healthy diet that is rich in fruit and vegetables, whole grains and healthy fats
2. Maintaining a healthy weight
3. Drinking no or very little alcohol
4. Being physically active on most days of the week

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