Fatty liver disease / NAFLD treatment

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About Fatty liver

Fatty liver disease - or, more specifically, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) - is a condition that occurs when fat builds up in the liver. The most common form of liver disease, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease affects nearly 25% of the United States’ adult population. The liver is a crucial organ that aids in digestion, protein production, metabolism, and general health. When fat tissue takes up 5-10% of your liver’s weight, symptoms of fatty liver disease begin to appear.

While many individuals experience no symptoms caused by fatty liver disease, it has been shown to cause effects such as:


  • Pain and swelling in the upper abdomen
  • Fatigue
  • Weakness
  • Nausea and loss of appetite
  • Jaundiced skin and eyes
  • Swollen legs (edema)

While there is no common cause of NAFLD, the condition has been linked to risk factors such as:


  • Obesity
  • High levels of cholesterol
  • High levels of triglycerides (fat molecules) in the blood
  • High blood sugar (hyperglycemia) and diabetes
  • Underactive thyroid glands (hypothyroidism)
  • Insulin resistance

Even though nonalcoholic fatty liver disease may not cause noticeable symptoms (at first), the condition can progressively destroy tissue in the liver. This leads to complications such as cirrhosis; or, excessive scarring of liver tissue. Cirrhosis can severely impact liver function and can increase your risk of liver cancer and liver failure.

Because of this, if you are struggling with risk factors for NAFLD, or are experiencing any of the symptoms listed above, talk to a health care provider right away. Early treatment can prevent NAFLD from becoming worse and leading to potentially life-threatening complications such as cirrhosis.

Below is a list of common treatment options for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. During your appointment, discuss these with your doctor to determine the right treatment plan for you.

Losing weight and maintaining a healthy lifestyle will address the conditions that cause NAFLD. There is no medical treatment for the disease, rather these lifestyle changes will help to reduce the amount of fat tissue stored in and around the liver. Common lifestyle changes recommended to treat nonalcoholic fatty liver disease include:

- Losing weight: Losing 5-10% of your body weight is ideal for minimizing damage to the liver. Talk to your doctor about healthy methods of losing weight. This generally includes consuming fewer calories and increasing your level of physical activity to burn the calories that you take in.

- Maintain a healthy diet: Choose a diet rich in vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and lean protein. If you are trying to lose weight, keep a journal of the foods you eat and the calories you consume.

- Get active: Make a goal to exercise for at least 30 minutes a day, most days of the week. Talk to your doctor about what forms of exercise may be safe and most effective for you.

- Treat underlying conditions: If NAFLD is occurring in concurrence with a condition such as diabetes or high cholesterol, talk to your doctor about medication and treatment options to address these underlying concerns. By managing these health conditions, symptoms of NAFLD may begin to improve.

- Avoid alcohol: Not only does alcohol contain calories that can contribute to excess body fat, but drinking alcohol can also damage your liver. If you are managing NAFLD, abstain from alcohol use to help maintain healthy tissue in the liver.

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