What is Global Fatty Liver Day?

Global Fatty Liver Day, previously known as International NASH Day, was launched in June 2018 to raise awareness and understanding of fatty liver disease (FLD). This push for education stems largely from the fact that FLD is often a ‘silent’ disease, meaning it can happen without causing any symptoms. Additionally, helping people to understand the connection between rising obesity and fatty liver disease rates.

Fatty liver disease overview

• Fatty liver disease means you have a buildup of fat in your liver.

• Fatty liver disease is divided into two types:

  1. Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)*

  2. Alcoholic fatty liver disease (AFLD)

• What is NAFLD?

  1. NAFLD is a type of fatty liver disease that is not related to heavy alcohol use.

     • What are the two kinds of NAFLD?

       1. Simple fatty liver: is when a person has fat in their liver, but little or no inflammation or live cell damage

       2. Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH): indicates that in addition to fat in the liver, there is also inflammation and liver cell damage

          • Liver cell damage and inflammation can cause scarring of the liver that may lead to cirrhosis or liver cancer

*NAFLD is now known as metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD)*

• What is AFLD?

  1. Alcoholic fatty liver disease is when your liver is damaged due to long-term, heavy alcohol use.

  2. AFLD is the earliest stage of alcohol-related liver disease. The next stages are alcoholic hepatitis and cirrhosis.

How serious is the fatty liver disease epidemic?

Fatty liver disease, and its more advanced form NASH, remain a hidden global epidemic. Estimates project that an estimated 357 million individuals will be impacted by 2030.

Due to its often subtle symptoms, the fatty liver disease is frequently underdiagnosed and underreported. It is considered a major risk factor for other health conditions such as:

• Obesity

• Type 2 diabetes

• Hyperlipidemia

When fatty liver disease is left untreated it can progress to cirrhosis, liver cancer and liver transplant.

Fatty LIver Disease Risk Factors 

The exact cause of fatty liver disease remains unknown, but research points to obesity as the most common cause. In the U.S., obesity rates have doubled in the last decade and as a result, health care providers are seeing a steady rise in fatty liver disease. The following are risk factors that you should be aware of:

• Being overweight

• High blood pressure

• Having diabetes or prediabetes

• Having high blood fat levels, either triglycerides or LDL cholesterol

Routine blood tests can show markers of fatty liver disease. To talk to one of our liver specialists about being at risk for fatty liver disease, contact us here.