Liver Diseases / Fatty Liver Disease

Fatty Liver Disease

Fatty liver disease is characterized by the buildup of extra fat in liver cells that is not caused by alcohol consumption.

your quick guide to this page

what is fatty liver disease?: Learn what defines fatty liver disease and what it's general consequences are.
fast facts: Get a quick overview of fatty liver disease through statistics and bite-sized facts.
symptoms: Learn about the symptoms of fatty liver disease, how to recognize them, and what to do if you experience them.
what does this mean?: Learn about the effects of fatty liver disease on your body.
lifestyle impacts: Find out how fatty liver disease impacts your lifestyle.
what can i do?: Discover management and treatment strategies for fatty liver disease.
additional resources: Find useful links, education, articles, recipes and more that can help with fatty liver disease.

what is fatty liver disease?

Fatty liver disease is defined as the buildup of extra fat in liver cells, that is not caused by alcohol consumption. It is normal for the liver to contain some fat, however, if more than 10% of your liver’s weight is fat, that’s when you’re likely to be diagnosed with fatty liver disease.

There are two main medical terms for fatty liver disease: metabolic dysfunction–associated steatotic liver disease, or MASLD for short, and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis, or MASH for short. MASH is the more advanced form of fatty liver disease, which causes the liver to swell and become damaged.

*MASLD was formerly known as Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and MASH was formerly known as Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis.

fast facts

MASLD is the most common form of liver disease in Canada, affecting at least 25% of all adults.
Approximately 8 million Canadians are affected by MASLD.
25% of those living with MASLD develop MASH, which can further progress to severe scarring of the liver (cirrhosis).
If detected early, fatty liver disease can be improved, or even reversed, with lifestyle and nutrition modifications.

what does this mean?

You many be wondering, “how does fat get into my liver?” Fat and sugars from a person’s diet are usually broken down by the liver and other tissues. If the amount of fat or sugar intake exceeds what is required by the body, fat is stored in the fatty tissue. Other reasons for the accumulation of fat in the liver could be the transfer of fat from other parts of the body, or the inability of the liver to convert it into matter that can be eliminated by the body.

Fatty liver disease is more common in individuals who are overweight or obese, but it can also occur in adults with healthy body weights.

Besides obesity, nutritional causes of fatty liver disease are:

Starvation and protein malnutrition
Long-term use of total parenteral nutrition (a feeding procedure that involves infusing nutrients directly into the bloodstream)
Intestinal bypass surgery for obesity
Rapid weight loss

Certain conditions often accompany and may contribute to fatty liver disease:

Diabetes mellitus
Hyperlipidemia (elevated lipids in the blood)
Insulin resistance and high blood pressure

Other causes include:

Genetic factors
Drugs and chemicals

lifestyle impacts

Overcoming a fatty liver disease diagnosis often requires lifestyle modifications like healthy eating, regular physical activity, and avoiding alcohol. The early stages of fatty liver disease can be reversed with lifestyle changes.

If you have fatty liver disease, symptoms like fatigue and weakness can make performing daily, essential tasks difficult.

what can i do?

prevention

You can prevent fatty liver disease by doing the following:

Maintain a healthy weight
Eat a balanced diet
Perform daily physical activity
Limit your alcohol consumption
Follow medication dosage recommendations

diagnosis

Fatty liver disease can be diagnosed through an ultrasound or FibroScan. Both can show the presence of fat in the liver. In some cases, your doctor may advise a liver biopsy, a procedure where the physician inserts a needle into the liver and extracts sample tissue, which is then examined under a microscope.

treatment

There is currently no cure for fatty liver disease. Lifestyle modifications are often the first thing that’s recommended to reduce the fat in your liver. The treatment of other metabolic conditions – that are often associated with fatty liver disease – may also occur.

additional resources

Here are a few questions to ask your doctor or medical team:

What type of fatty liver disease do I have?
What stage of fatty liver disease am I at?
What lifestyle changes should I make to support my liver health?
Can you refer me to a registered dietitian to plan out balanced meals?