Fatty liver disease is a common condition caused by the storage of extra fat in the liver. Most people have no symptoms, and it doesn’t cause serious problems for them. In some cases, though, it can lead to liver damage. The good news is you can often prevent or even reverse fatty liver disease with lifestyle changes.

SYMPTOMS

People with fatty liver disease often have no symptoms until the disease progresses to cirrhosis of the liver. If you do have symptoms, they may include:

• Abdominal pain or a feeling of fullness in the upper right side of the abdomen (belly).
• Nausea, loss of appetite or weight loss.
• Yellowish skin and whites of the eyes (jaundice).
• Swollen abdomen and legs (edema).
• Extreme tiredness or mental confusion.

CAUSES

Some people get fatty liver disease without having any pre-existing conditions. But these risk factors make you more likely to develop it:

• Having overweight/obesity.
• Having Type 2 diabetes or insulin resistance.
• Having metabolic syndrome (insulin resistance, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and high triglyceride levels).

PREVENTION

The best way to avoid fatty liver disease is to do the things that maintain overall health:

• Stay at a healthy weight. If you have overweight/obesity, lose weight gradually.
• Exercise regularly.
• Limit your alcohol consumption.
• Take medications as prescribed.