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What Is a Fatty Liver in the Human Body?

If more than 5 percent of your liver's mass is fatty, you may have a fatty liver disease, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) or the more severe nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). A fatty liver is also produced by too much alcohol.

  1. Fatty Liver Conditions

    • Having too much fat in the liver produces similar consequences whether due to excess weight or excess alcohol: swelling, cirrhosis, tissue scarring and possibly the need for a transplant. About 10 percent of Americans are estimated to have non-life-threatening fat in their liver, and about 5 percent are suspected to have NASH. Alcoholic liver disease affects approximately 1 percent of the population but accounts for half of deaths due to cirrhosis.

    Symptoms

    • NAFLD and NASH often go on for years without any signs. Many will begin feeling symptoms once the condition has significantly advanced or cirrhosis develops, which means the organ hardens, scars and becomes unable to function. The earliest warning signs are fatigue, loss of appetite, weight loss, weakness, abdominal pain, jaundice, itching, swelling of legs and mental confusion.

    Prevention and Treatment

    • There are no standard treatments for NAFLD and NASH, but eating a healthy diet and staying physically active may help prevent fatty liver from happening or help it to reverse. NASH and NAFLD often co-exist with other health problems such as high blood pressure and diabetes. Control these conditions and take your medications. In addition, you should make a concerted effort to get to a healthy weight range.

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