What Is Fatty Liver Disease?

Fatty liver disease, now widely known as MASLD (Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease), is a condition where fat accumulates in liver cells, exceeding 5% of the liver’s weight. While this may not sound alarming, excess liver fat can cause inflammation and scarring over time, eventually leading to fibrosis, cirrhosis, liver failure, or even liver cancer in severe cases.

What makes fatty liver particularly concerning is that it’s usually asymptomatic in the early stages, meaning many people have it and don’t even realize it. It’s often discovered incidentally during routine blood work or imaging tests performed for unrelated issues.

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NAFLD and MASLD: What’s the Difference?

The term NAFLD (Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease) has historically been used to describe fatty liver not caused by alcohol. However, the medical community has shifted to using MASLD, as it better reflects the metabolic causes of the condition, such as obesity, insulin resistance, high cholesterol, and type 2 diabetes.

This updated terminology emphasizes that fatty liver is part of a broader metabolic dysfunction. In other words, liver health isn’t isolated; it’s deeply connected to lifestyle and chronic conditions like diabetes and heart disease.

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What Causes Fatty Liver?

Fatty liver develops when the liver’s ability to process fat is overwhelmed, causing fat to build up in the liver cells. This can be due to:

• Unhealthy eating habits (diets high in processed foods and sugars)

• Sedentary lifestyle

• Obesity and insulin resistance

• High blood pressure and abnormal cholesterol levels

• Type 2 diabetes

• Rapid weight loss or certain medications

In some cases, alcohol use can lead to a similar condition, referred to as alcohol-related liver disease (ARLD).

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Can It Be Prevented or Reversed?

Yes, especially in the early stages, fatty liver is often preventable and reversible. The cornerstone of management lies in lifestyle changes. Adopting a diet rich in whole foods, limiting added sugars and refined carbs, increasing physical activity, and managing weight can all significantly improve liver health.

Losing just 5–10% of body weight has been shown to reduce liver fat, inflammation, and even early-stage fibrosis. Quitting smoking, managing stress, and sleeping well also contribute to overall liver and metabolic wellness.

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Treatment: No Pills, Just Prevention (for Now)

Currently, there are no medications specifically approved to treat MASLD. That means lifestyle change remains the most effective approach. However, people with more advanced liver disease may require regular monitoring, liver function tests, and ongoing management from a specialist. This makes early detection critical, identifying the disease before symptoms appear or permanent damage occurs.

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Why Early Detection Matters

Because fatty liver is often symptomless, it tends to go undiagnosed until it’s progressed. That’s why routine liver screening, especially for individuals with metabolic risk factors, is key. The earlier the diagnosis, the better the chances of reversing damage and preventing progression.

However, liver biopsies (the traditional gold standard) are invasive, expensive, and not practical for widespread screening. This is where non-invasive diagnostics are transforming the game.

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Supporting Early Detection with Smarter Tools at Fibronostics

At Fibronostics, we’re rethinking liver diagnostics. Our non-invasive solutions — LIVERFASt and LIVERSTAT provide accurate assessments of fibrosis, inflammation, activity, and steatosis through a simple blood test. No biopsy. No wait. Just insights that help guide timely decisions. Because in liver health, the earlier you act, the better the outcome.