Ways to Prevent and Improve Fatty Liver Disease Naturally

Weight loss, exercise, and a healthy diet can help prevent and manage fatty liver disease.

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Fatty liver disease is one of the most common health conditions today. It develops when fat makes up more than 5 percent of the liver’s weight. Over time, the condition can progress to cancer, often without noticeable symptoms, making early prevention and management essential.

There is a common misconception that only overweight people are prone to fatty liver disease. However, this is not the case. The following groups are at risk:

• Overweight people: Those with a body mass index (BMI) between 25 and 30 face an increased risk of developing fatty liver disease. If your BMI (calculated as weight divided by height squared) is more than 25, testing for fatty liver disease is recommended.
• “Skinny fat” people: These people often appear slim but have a high body fat percentage, giving them a soft, “puffy” appearance.
• People who enjoy sweets or alcohol: Diets high in sugar or alcohol can also increase the risk of developing fatty liver disease.

Mild fatty liver typically has no noticeable symptoms but, if left unmanaged, can progress to serious conditions such as cirrhosis or liver cancer. As fat builds up in the liver, the condition can progress from simple steatosis (fat accumulation) to inflammation, followed by fibrosis (early liver scarring), then cirrhosis (advanced scarring), and eventually liver cancer. People with fatty liver are at a higher risk of cardiovascular disease and related mortality.