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.