Imagine, you are in your thirties. You are of normal weight, exercise regularly, have no history of diabetes or high blood pressure. However, a regular check-up reveals that you have fatty deposits in your liver. Today, such a situation is not exceptional. Hepatologists in India are seeing an ever-increasing number of patients who do not fit into the traditional risk group for fatty liver. Previously, fatty liver disease was thought to be mainly associated with obesity, diabetes and excessive alcohol consumption. However, research now shows that metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) can occur even in seemingly perfectly healthy individuals. Saifi Hospital’s DM (Hepatology) and Liver Transplant Specialist, Dr. Chetan Kalal has told the real reason behind fatty liver, let’s know.
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The most important reason behind this is genetics. Some individuals are born with a greater tendency to accumulate fat in the liver due to changes in genes such as PNPLA3. This trend is more common among South Asians, especially Indians. So many Indians can develop fatty liver even when their weight is normal.
Apart from this, the quality of diet is also very important. Even if the calorie intake is adequate, the liver converts excess sugar into fat if you frequently eat sugary drinks, starchy foods, packaged snacks, and processed foods. This process continues slowly and can lead to fatty liver over time without weight gain.
Currently, researchers are focusing on the Gut-Liver Axis. Processed food, frequent use of antibiotics, constant stress and insufficient sleep disrupt the balance of beneficial bacteria in the gut. It increases inflammation in the body and affects the process of fat in the liver. This may increase the risk of fatty liver even in individuals without conventional risk factors.
Apart from this, hormonal and metabolic problems can also cause it. Hypothyroidism, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), insulin resistance, and cholesterol disturbances can all lead to fatty deposits in the liver before diabetes develops.
The most worrying thing is that in the early stages of fatty liver, there are no symptoms. Many people only find out about the disease during an ultrasound or a routine blood test. The disease can be completely controlled with proper lifestyle changes in the early stages. But if neglected, it can lead to serious diseases like liver inflammation, fibrosis, cirrhosis, liver failure and even liver cancer.
The important message is that just because the body looks slim or healthy does not mean the liver is equally healthy. Even if your weight and blood sugar are normal, don’t ignore it if a checkup shows fatty liver. Investigation of liver fibrosis and metabolic risk assessment should be done to find the underlying cause. Serious liver damage can be prevented with timely diagnosis and appropriate lifestyle changes. When it comes to liver health, just the number on the scale is not enough.
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