Fatty liver disease is divided into two categories: alcoholic (AFLD) and non-alcoholic (NAFLD). As the name suggests, AFLD describes a buildup of fat in the liver caused by drinking too much alcohol. NAFLD is not associated with excessive alcohol intake, but is closely related to being overweight.
For many people, NAFLD does not cause symptoms or problems in the early stages.
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According to health body Penn Medicine, symptoms may appear if NAFLD progresses to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH).
NASH is a more serious form of the disease that can cause liver failure and liver cancer.
In people with NASH who have liver damage (cirrhosis), symptoms may include:
- Weakness
- loss of appetite
- Nausea
- Yellow skin and eyes (jaundice)
- itching
- Fluid buildup and swelling in the legs and abdomen.
- Mental confusion
- Gastrointestinal bleeding.
«These combined health problems appear to promote fat deposition in the liver,» explains Healthy Body.
«For some people, this excess fat acts as a toxin to liver cells, causing liver inflammation and NASH, which can lead to the buildup of scar tissue in the liver.»
A wide range of diseases and conditions can increase your risk of NAFLD, including:
- High cholesterol
- High levels of triglycerides in the blood.
- Metabolic syndrome
- Obesity, particularly when the fat is concentrated in the abdomen.
- Polycystic ovary syndrome
- Sleep apnea
- Type 2 diabetes
- Underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism)
- Underactive pituitary gland (hypopituitarism).
«However, if your NAFLD is related to being overweight, you’ll be advised to make a number of lifestyle changes, such as gradual weight loss and sensible exercise,» explains the British Liver Trust (BLT).
According to the BLT, there is good evidence that gradual weight loss along with increased exercise can reduce the amount of fat in the liver.