Expert Warns of Rising Fatty Liver Disease, Cites Diet and Lifestyle Factors

Fatty liver disease is on the rise globally, driven by widespread obesity, diabetes, and increasingly sedentary lifestyles. Experts highlight that poor dietary habits and insufficient physical activity are the primary culprits threatening liver health. The condition, characterized by more than 5% of the liver's weight being fat, is often seen alongside obesity, insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, and high cholesterol. Excessive consumption of fast food, high-calorie intake, and processed foods significantly elevate the risk.

“

In our day, obesity, insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, and high cholesterol are seen together most frequently. Especially a diet heavy on fast food, excessive calorie intake, and frequent consumption of processed foods significantly increase the risk.

Associate Professor Dr. Mehmet Önder Ekmen, a Gastroenterology Specialist, emphasized that fatty liver disease often progresses silently, with many patients showing no significant complaints in the early stages. The condition is frequently discovered incidentally during routine check-ups. While some individuals may experience symptoms such as fatigue, quick exhaustion, and a feeling of fullness in the upper right abdomen, these are often dismissed.

The danger is growing, with a particularly alarming increase in childhood fatty liver disease. Dr. Ekmen attributes this surge in children to high-calorie diets, excessive consumption of sugary drinks, increased screen time, and reduced physical activity. This early onset can lay the groundwork for serious liver diseases later in life.

“

Fatty liver disease progresses very insidiously in most cases; in the early stages, patients do not have significant complaints.

Untreated fatty liver can lead to inflammation (hepatitis) and fibrosis, a hardening of the liver tissue. In advanced stages, it can progress to cirrhosis and significantly increase the risk of liver cancer. Dr. Ekmen stressed that abdominal obesity and insulin resistance play direct roles, and the disease should be viewed as part of metabolic syndrome. While blood tests might show normal liver enzymes, ultrasonography is the most common diagnostic tool. Elastography can provide detailed assessments of liver stiffness and fat content when necessary.

“

In recent years, childhood fatty liver disease has increased at frightening levels.

The good news, according to Dr. Ekmen, is that fatty liver disease is reversible if detected early. The cornerstone of treatment involves weight loss and adopting a healthier lifestyle, with a Mediterranean-style diet being particularly beneficial. This approach focuses on improving diet and increasing physical activity to combat the disease effectively.

“

The risk of liver cancer increases significantly in advanced stages.