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Fatty liver disease refers to the condition in which an extra amount of fat gets accumulated in your liver. The liver is a vital organ located in the right upper quadrant of the abdomen, whose function is to detoxify metabolites, synthesize proteins, hormones, bile, and biochemicals needed for digestion, growth, and metabolism. Normally, the liver has only a little amount of fat. When the percentage of fat in the liver exceeds 5-10% of the liver’s weight, it is known as fatty liver disease or liver steatosis. In most people, it does not cause serious issues; however, in around 7-30% of people, the disease progresses to inflammation and damage called steatohepatitis and may further progress to scarring of the liver called liver cirrhosis, in which normal functioning liver tissue is replaced by scarred tissue and fibrosis and is no longer able to perform its functions properly. Liver cirrhosis may ultimately result in liver failure or liver cancer.
Fatty liver disease is very common in the USA and is most commonly caused by excess alcohol consumption. It can also be due to obesity and an increased intake of fatty food. The presence of metabolic syndrome, which includes diabetes mellitus, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, are among the risk factors that can predispose to fatty liver disease.
By adopting a healthy lifestyle and avoiding alcohol, fatty liver disease can be prevented and even reversed.