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Obesity and Fatty Liver Disease: Dangerous Threats to Liver Wellness

15th September, 2010 - Posted by health news - No Comments

When you ask people what they think is the biggest liver problem today, they’ll generally say it’s cirrhosis. For a long time, that would have been correct. But not anymore.

Obesity is now the biggest threat to liver health, especially since it is the main cause of a dangerous liver condition called fatty liver disease.

Public health officials in both the United States and Canada generally agree that obesity, due to poor nutrition and lack of exercise, damages more livers than cirrhosis, which is often brought on by drinking too much. Statistically speaking, obesity affects more people than alcoholism (the main cause of cirrhosis). So more people are at risk for fatty liver disease.

To appreciate how obesity affects the liver – and why fatty liver disease is so dangerous – it helps to understand how the liver works.

The liver performs dozens of important jobs in the human body. One of its major roles is metabolizing the food we eat. But when we eat too much or don’t exercise enough, large droplets of fat start to accumulate in the liver. As these fat droplets build up, the liver starts to produce more enzymes, which can inflame liver tissue. This inflammation can cause scarring and cirrhosis, in which the liver becomes hardened and liver function is compromised.

Therefore, fatty liver disease is exactly what the name implies. Your body produces more fat than it needs, and some of the excess fat starts accumulating in your liver.

It’s estimated that as many of 20 percent of Americans may now have some level of fatty liver disease (which is sometimes called fatty liver syndrome by medical professionals). Fatty liver syndrome is also the most prevalent and fastest growing liver problem in Canada, according to the Canadian Liver Foundation.

Fatty liver is also dangerous because you usually don’t know you have it until it has already done a lot of damage. There will eventually be symptoms, however. They’re likely to include any or all of the following:

• jaundice, which makes the skin look yellow
• fever
• itichiness
• right side abdominal discomfort and pain

If you begin to notice any of these symptoms, it’s a good idea to make an appointment with your doctor as soon as you can. If fatty liver has developed, tests will show that your liver has become somewhat enlarged and liver enzymes have become higher than normal.

Liver function tests can be a valuable tool for diagnosing fatty liver disease in the early stages. Your doctor may suggest them for you if you’re getting obese and don’t get much exercise, even if you don’t yet have any symptoms.

Identifying the cause of your fatty liver disease will influence your treatment. Even though fatty liver disease can be dangerous if left untreated, the liver can often return to a healthy state through simple lifestyle changes. Losing weight is important. A healthier diet that includes fewer fatty foods and a regular exercise regimen can be extremely beneficial. If you drink a lot of alcohol, it’s important to stop, or at least cut back significantly. If you have diabetes, it’s extremely important to watch your blood sugar levels closely.

If you want to find additional information on topics related to this article, click on Why Is Fatty Liver Disease Dangerous|What Is Fatty Liver Disease and Liver Disease and Liver Pain. Neal Kennedy is a retired TV news anchor, medical reporter and radio talk show host. He is a frequent contributor to The Human Liver, a resource website about liver health and digestive wellness.