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Some groups face high fatty liver disease risk

Category: Liver Diseases

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is becoming a pressing public health concern. As obesity rates climb, the number of people with the chronic condition has also increased. Some groups may face a particularly high risk.

Dr. Kathleen Corey, a hepatologist at Massachusetts General Hospital and director of the Fatty Liver Clinic at the hospital, told the Chicago Tribune that anywhere from 60 to 90 percent of people who are obese and have diabetes also have fatty liver disease.

There is a major connection between weight, diabetes and liver problems. The rise in the number of people with fatty liver disease has largely mirrored climbing obesity rates. Furthermore, the Mayo Clinic states that health problems commonly associated with diabetes can lead to the accumulation of fat in the liver.

Fatty liver disease can be a major health problem because as fat builds up in the organ, it causes scarring. This can eventually impair the function of the liver, eventually leading to organ failure.

The fact that so many people who are overweight and have diabetes also experience this problem underscores the need for liver panel testing to ensure the health of the vital organ.