A doctor has issued a warning over a silent killer disease that has very few symptoms yet affects around one in five Brits. Dr Amir Khan is a best-selling author and regularly appears on television to discuss health issues.
He took to Instagram to issue a warning over fatty liver disease – something which affects roughly 20 per cent of Brits, including a concerning increase among young adults. The British Liver Trust describes it as a ‘long-lasting liver condition caused by having too much fat in the liver. It is closely linked with being overweight as well as conditions such as type 2 diabetes and heart and circulatory disease’.
It can also be known as metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), while metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis is a more serious stage of MASLD. Fatty liver disease traditionally affects people in their 40s to 60s, but a follow-up study of thousands of 24-year-olds in Bristol showed one in 40 had more advanced disease with liver scarring (fibrosis).
The UK is currently seeing a concerning rise in the number of liver-related deaths – mortality rates from liver disease have risen more than 400 per cent in the last 50 years. Worryingly, not a great deal is known about fatty liver disease – and Dr Khan was keen to stress how serious the issue is. He said: “Fatty liver disease is becoming increasingly common, yet there is so much we don’t know about it. Now, our liver is the second-largest organ in our body. It has many jobs, one of which is to break down fats for energy.
“Now, fatty liver disease occurs when too much fat is stored within the liver cells. It has nothing to do with alcohol intake. Experts don’t know why exactly some people accumulate fat in the liver and others do not, and we don’t know why some people who do go on to develop serious liver problems when others do not.
“But we do know there are risk factors for fatty liver disease, and these include obesity, type 2 diabetes, insulin resistance, and those with high levels of fats in their blood called triglycerides. Other risk factors include sleep apnea, an underactive thyroid, and polycystic ovarian syndrome.
“Now, most people will have no symptoms, and the diagnosis is often picked up through a random blood test or a scan. But those who go on to develop serious liver disease can get tummy pain, fatigue, weight loss, fluid build-up in the tummy and legs, and other signs of liver problems.”
It is thought that alcohol and obesity cause worse liver damage when combined. And with more and more people becoming overweight in the UK, it could be exacerbating the situation. However, you can still have the condition even if you are a healthy weight.
This could be through eating or drinking unhealthy things, low levels of physical activity or spending a lot of time sitting down, or high blood lipids such as cholesterol, or high blood pressure. Dr Khan said there are currently no approved medications to treat it.
There is some good news though. Treating MASLD with a healthy diet, physical activity, and weight loss can slow or even reverse liver damage, especially if it is at an earlier stage.
Dr Khan said: “Currently, there are no approved medications to treat fatty liver disease, but there are things that we can do to reverse it, including stopping smoking, getting to a healthy weight, having a balanced diet rich in plants, moving and exercising regularly, and getting good quality sleep. If you’re worried, speak to a healthcare professional.”