BRITAIN could be facing a surge in fatty liver disease cases fuelled by an obesity epidemic, experts have warned.
The cancer-causing disease is most commonly seen in individuals who are overweight or obese, and, or have type 2 diabetes.
Experts from the British Liver Trust fear “increasing prevalence of type 2 diabetes and obesity” will bring with it a “fatty liver disease tsunami”
The charity says one in three people have early stage non-alcohol related fatty liver disease (NAFLD).
Vanessa Hebditch, from the charity, said: “There is a need for greater awareness of the link between diabetes and liver disease.
“It is well known that type 2 diabetes can increase the risk of many health issues including cardiovascular and kidney disease but it can also significantly raise your risk of fatty liver disease.”
Read more on liver disease
Fatty liver disease, as the name suggests, refers to an increased build-up of fat inside the liver
Over years of damage, the number of liver cells declines and significant liver scar tissue builds up, culminating, at its most advanced stage, in liver cirrhosis – which can cause cancer.
Two-thirds of people living with type 2 diabetes also have NAFLD.
Over 4million people in the UK have type 2 diabetes – with that number predicted to rise by 5million by 2025.
“This means that the UK could be facing a tsunami of people newly diagnosed with fatty liver disease,” Vanessa said.
Obesity levels are also on the rise, with estimates suggesting that more than 21 million UK adults will be obese by 2040.
Vanessa said: “If you are diagnosed with fatty liver disease, losing weight and eating a healthy diet is the first line of treatment.
“There is good evidence that losing five to 10 per cent of body weight can control and, in some cases, reverse the condition.”
Previous research suggested one in five young adults has evidence of fatty liver disease.
A follow-up study of thousands of 24-year-olds in Bristol showed one in 40 had more advanced disease with liver scarring (fibrosis).
Fatty liver: the essentials + the risk factors
Fatty liver, or MASLD (metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease), disease means you have extra fat in your liver.
It is closely linked with being overweight as well as conditions such as type 2 diabetes and heart and circulatory disease.
In a small number of people, it can lead to liver cancer or liver failure.
The main treatment is eating a well-balanced diet, being physically active and (if needed) losing weight.
What are the 8 risk factors?
Although most cases of MASLD are linked to excess weight, you can develop the disease if you have a healthy weight.
These things increase the risk of MASLD:
- A weight in the overweight or obese range
- A high waist measurement
- Type 2 diabetes
- A diet with too many unhealthy foods and drinks
- Low levels of physical activity or spending a lot of time sitting down
- High blood lipids such as cholesterol
- High blood pressure
- Other conditions linked to insulin resistance for example polycystic ovary syndrome
What are the symptoms?
There are often no specific symptoms, even if the disease is at a later stage.
You may not show any symptoms for many years, but when you do, these could include:
- Tiredness, fatigue or a general feeling of lethargy or having no energy
- Discomfort on the upper right side of your tummy (where your liver is)
- Yellowness of the eyes and skin (jaundice) – this may be harder to notice if you have black or brown skin
- Bruising easily
- Dark urine
- Swelling of the tummy area (ascites)
- Vomiting blood
- Dark black tarry poo
- Periods of confusion, forgetting things, mood changes or poor judgement (encephalopathy)
- Itching skin
If you develop any of these symptoms tell a doctor straight away.
Source: British Liver Trust