Steatosis
Introduction
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the term for a range of conditions caused by a build-up of fatin the liver. It's usually seen in people who are overweight or obese.
A healthy liver should contain little or no fat. It's estimated that up to one in every three people in the UK has early stages of NAFLD where there are small amounts of fat in their liver.
Early-stage NAFLD doesn't usually cause any harm, but it can lead to serious liver damage, including Cirrhosis , if it gets worse. Having high levels of fat in your liver is also associated with an increased risk of problems such as diabetes , heart attacks and strokes .
If detected and managed at an early stage, it's possible to stop NAFLD getting worse and reduce the amount of fat in your liver.
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Medically Reviewed by a doctor on 4 Jan 2017
Introduction
Read about the symptoms, causes and types of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), a range of conditions caused by a build-up of fat within the liver cells.
Stages of NAFLD
NAFLD develops in four main stages. Most people will only everdevelop the first stage, usually without realising it. In small number of cases itcan progress and eventually lead to liver damage if not
Am I at risk of NAFLD?
You're at an increased risk of NAFLD if you: are obese or overweight particularly if you have a lot of fat around your waist (an "apple-like" body shape) have type 2 diabetes have high blood pre
Symptoms ofNAFLD
There aren't usually any symptoms of NAFLD in the early stages. You probably won't know you have it unless it's diagnosed during tests carried out for another reason. Occasionally, people with NASH o
Treatment for NAFLD
Most people with NAFLD won't develop any serious problems, but if you're diagnosed with the condition it's a good idea to take steps to stop it getting any worse. There's currently no specific medica
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