With rising cases, fatty liver disease becomes a silent epidemic

For decades, liver-related ailments were mainly linked with alcohol use, hepatitis infections, or genetic disorders. But doctors are now warning of another growing threat — non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), recently renamed metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD).

The name change underscores the real culprit: metabolic dysfunction. Central obesity, uncontrolled diabetes, hypothyroidism and cholesterol imbalances are increasingly being recognised as the key drivers of this condition.

Recent studies estimate that up to 38.6 per cent of Indian adults may already be affected. Alarmingly, in urban North India, the prevalence is even higher, with some Punjab-based studies reporting over 60 per cent of adults showing signs of fatty liver disease.

Most people don’t realise they have it because early symptoms are vague — like fatigue or mild abdominal discomfort. By the time it’s diagnosed, the disease may have progressed to dangerous stages.

The condition typically advances in four phases. Starting with harmless fat deposits, moving to liver inflammation (NASH), then fibrosis with scarring, and ultimately cirrhosis, which severely impairs liver function and can lead to liver failure or cancer.

The common lifestyle issues include poor diet, physical inactivity, obesity, high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes. Women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) are also at higher risk.

Routine blood tests, liver enzyme checks, lipid profiles, ultrasound and Fibroscan tests can detect fatty liver early, even when there are no symptoms. Early intervention makes a critical difference.

Simple lifestyle changes such as losing 5-10 per cent body weight, eating a diet low in sugar and unhealthy fats, exercising 150-200 minutes per week, and avoiding alcohol and smoking, can not only reverse fatty liver but also prevent associated heart disease and diabetes.

Global health guidelines recommend a high-fiber diet, regular physical activity, weight management and stress control through practices like yoga or meditation.

Unless awareness spreads, fatty liver disease could silently grow into a major public health crisis across North India. This is no longer just about alcohol or genetics but more importantly about lifestyle and the good news is that with timely care, it can be prevented and even reversed.