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Fatty liver disease is one of the most common diseases in the Western world. The disease has become the leading cause of the development of liver cirrhosis, with its complications, and there is a constant increase in the rate of liver transplants due to fatty liver.
The incidence of the disease is increasing due to unhealthy eating habits and lifestyle, as well as an increase in the rate of overweight and obesity in the population.
The rate of fatty liver in Israel is estimated at about 30% of the adult population and also in children and adolescents it is a very common disease.
What is fatty liver?
Fatty liver is an accumulation of fat in the liver that can cause the development of inflammation and scarring to the point of significant damage to the liver leading to liver cirrhosis and liver failure.
In most cases, the disease is diagnosed randomly, since there are no special signs in the early stages, except for findings in blood tests and imaging, and only in the later stages do symptoms related to liver damage appear. The main cause of fatty liver is the metabolic syndrome which includes obesity, diabetes, hypertension and excess lipids in the blood.
The increase in the prevalence of overweight and obesity in the population contributes to the increase in the prevalence of fatty liver, as well as the other components of the metabolic syndrome. A lack of physical activity and a processed and high-sugar diet, including sugary drinks, are closely related to obesity, the development of diabetes, and the development of fatty liver.
How is fatty liver diagnosed?
Fatty liver diagnosis is usually done randomly with an ultrasound examination or as part of an investigation for an increase in liver enzymes in blood tests. The severity of the disease can be diagnosed by various means, including a biopsy or a fibroscan test that non-invasively assesses the liver scar and the amount of fat in the liver.
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How do you treat fatty liver?
The basis of fatty liver treatment is lifestyle change - a healthy diet that reduces processed foods, sugar and carbohydrates, moderate physical activity (such as walking), avoiding alcohol (which in itself can cause the accumulation of fats in the liver) as well as an optimal balance of risk factors (weight loss, balancing diabetes and blood lipids ).
Recently, new drugs and treatments have been announced to treat the obesity epidemic (weight loss drugs to administer, endoscopic treatments and surgeries) and yes, the American Drug Administration approved for the first time a drug to treat fatty liver, but these drugs and treatments must come together with a dietary change, as well as a change to a healthy lifestyle.
The treatment of the fatty liver can definitely result in an improvement in the fatty filtration as well as a reversal of the liver damage, if it has occurred, and the prevention of future complications related to the fatty liver.
In conclusion, an unhealthy lifestyle and a diet with no processed foods and sugars can lead to the development of various diseases including fatty liver which can cause significant damage to the liver. It is very important to adopt a healthy diet and moderate physical activity in order to prevent and treat fatty liver disease.
The author is an expert in liver diseases, gastroenterology and internal diseases, a volunteer in the organization "For your sake" led by the son-in-law of the President, Rabbi Yossi Arablich.
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