Fatty Liver

DR CHIENG JIN YU, CONSULTANT PHYSICIAN, GASTROENTEROLOGIST AND HEPATOLOGIST

What is fatty liver?

Fatty liver is the accumulation of abnormal amounts of fat within the liver. The condition has rapidly increased over the years and has become one of the most common causes of chronic liver disease in the Malaysia. If inflammation persists, the liver will progress to scarring and ultimately, to liver cirrhosis, with complications such as gastrointestinal bleeding, liver failure, and liver cancer.

It is a common misconception that only obese people get fatty liver disease. Thin people can also develop it – this condition is known as “lean NASH.” People who maintain their weight by either diet or exercise alone are likely to have major fat depositions in internal organs such as the liver, heart or pancreas, even if they are otherwise slim.

The internal fat surrounding vital organs could be as dangerous as the more obvious external fat that can be seen physically. Even people with normal Body Mass Index (BMI) scores can have surprisingly high fat depositions. This may further lead to insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes mellitus, or heart disease.

It is also important to note that people with normal weight who are sedentary and unfit are at a much higher risk of mortality than obese people who are active and fit.