As its name suggests, fatty liver is a condition that involves an excessive build-up of fat in the organ. Usually, a healthy liver will have a low-fat amount. However, it can become a concern when the fat reaches five to ten percent of the liver’s weight. In many cases, the disease doesn’t keep the liver from fulfilling its intended function or cause serious problems. However, the condition may worsen for around seven to thirty percent of those with it.
Generally, it progresses through different stages, starting with inflammation of the liver, called steatohepatitis. The process of fibrosis follows when scar tissue begins forming on the damaged areas of the organ. Once the extensive scar tissues have replaced the healthy ones, the person has liver cirrhosis. At this point, the scar tissue will slow down and eventually obstruct the liver’s ability to function entirely.
Some of the most common causes of fatty liver are obesity, insulin resistance or diabetes, metabolic syndromes, and even certain prescription medications. Symptoms can range from abdominal pain to jaundice. While no drugs for it exist, there are ways to treat it, and we’ll cover a few ways of treating it in this article.
Lose Weight
Research has identified weight loss as a critical component in slowing or preventing the progression of fatty liver conditions and symptoms. Thus, it’s recommended that people who live with the disease and obesity try to lose some excess weight as it’ll reduce the liver’s build-up of fat. In addition, losing 7 to 10 percent of the body’s weight may also improve the accompanying symptoms, such as scarring, inflammation, and fibrosis.
The ideal approach to losing weight and maintaining it is taking small but habit-forming steps toward the goal. However, opting for extreme diets and fasting is usually unsustainable. Moreover, they can do more harm than good, causing undue liver stress. It’ll also end up being more discouraging if you’re unable to meet your objectives, unlike pacing yourself and setting realistic goals.
However, before committing to any program for weight loss, it’s crucial to speak with a medical practitioner to determine what you’re capable of and identify any potential health risks to create an ideal plan for you. It’s worth consulting with dieticians, too, because they can develop a dietary program that will enable you to meet weight loss objectives safely and healthily.
