
Getting medical interventions
Many people with obesity do not get an obesity diagnosis and treatment from healthcare providers. Find out what you can do to get the help you need.
Your liver is one of the most important organs in your body. It carries out more than 500 functions, from digesting food to fighting infections. Perhaps most impressive of all is that in many cases, the liver is able to repair itself after it’s been damaged.
Harish Manikandan, Living with Obesity, Chile
Maintaining a healthy liver health is important, especially as the rate of obesity rises. Current research suggests that liver diseases such as Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease (or more simply referred to as MASLD) is present in up to 75% of people who live with overweight and in more than 90% of people living with obesity. This article explores the link between obesity and MASLD, and the weight management strategies that can be taken to support a healthy liver.
MASLD affects 38% of adults worldwide, making it one of the most common chronic (long- lasting) liver diseases in the world. You may have also seen MASLD called NAFLD or fatty liver disease –these are all names for the same condition. MASLD is caused by too much fat being stored in the liver. If left unmanaged, MASLD can lead to metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), which is a more severe stage of MASLD. If MASH is left unmanaged, this can progress to liver cancer or eventually, liver failure. Early diagnosis can help to identify the signs of MASLD and therefore, the most appropriate interventions to slow or prevent a decline in liver health.
There are several complex processes by which living with obesity can increase the risk of developing MASLD. Let’s take a look:
People living with obesity and MASLD can be at an increased risk for cardiovascular risk disease. Calculating your Waist-to-Height Ratio can be a good way to understand the risk of developing cardiovascular risk factors associated with MASLD.
Reducing risk factors associated with MASLD, such as living with obesity, aims to prevent the condition from getting worse.
Weight reduction of at least 5% of total body weight can improve MASLD and weight reduction of 7–10% of total body weight can improve advanced MASLD and fibrosis. Your doctor can help you to understand the types of weight management options that can work best for you.
Some options include:*
* This information is intended for people living with obesity and should not be substituted for medical advice from your doctor.
MASLD is a serious but often silent liver disease that is becoming increasingly common alongside rising obesity rates. While there is no single treatment for MASLD, many effective strategies exist, such as weight management options. Early diagnosis and timely weight management can help to improve MASLD and slow or prevent progression to more serious liver health conditions. If you're concerned about your liver health or your weight, talk to your doctor.
HQ25OB00213