Obesity: A Key Factor in Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

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Obesity has become a worldwide health epidemic that’s as costly as it is deadly. In the United States alone, obesity is the cause of approximately 300,000 deaths per year. Besides increased mortality rates, obesity also raises the risk of developing chronic diseases, like type 2 diabetes, insulin resistance, coronary heart disease, cancer, and many more—including a nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Fortunately, weight loss has been shown to help liver enzymes normalize and reduce inflammation that can cause permanent liver damage and other serious conditions.

What is Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease?

The liver is one of the most important organs in the body; it aids digestion, produces proteins to help repair and rebuild damaged cells, converts nutrients to energy, and other essential functions.

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease is a blanket term for several liver conditions that occur when an excessive amount of fat accumulates in the liver of people who don’t drink alcohol, such as nonalcoholic fatty liver (NAFL) and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). The liver normally contains a small amount of fat; but when it reaches 5-10% of the liver’s total weight, a patient is considered to have NAFLD.

Risk Factors for Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

Usually, NAFLD has little to no symptoms, which is why it’s often referred to as a silent condition. Many people don’t realize they have it. If symptoms are present, they’re usually fairly generalized, such as feeling more tired than usual, itchy skin, or some discomfort in the upper right side of the abdomen. Although genetic factors and some prescription medications can play a role, NAFLD is strongly associated with obesity and its related health conditions:

Having one or more of these conditions can significantly increase the chance of developing NAFLD. A high-sugar diet, which is a significant factor in obesity, can also put one at a higher risk of developing the condition. If insulin resistance (the first stage prior to developing diabetes) isn’t already present, NAFLD can cause it. Insulin resistance is what happens when your body doesn’t respond well to glucose in your blood. To compensate, the pancreas produces more insulin, which causes blood sugar levels to increase. Left untreated, insulin resistance can lead to severe blood sugar issues, stroke, heart attacks, kidney issues, and cancer.

In addition, if the liver becomes swollen and suffers tissue damage, it can limit the organ’s ability to function. When too much scar tissue builds up in the liver, it can lead to liver failure or cancer. Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease is most common seen in older people, especially those with excessive abdominal fat. It’s believed that as many as one in three to one in five adults in the U.S. have NAFLD and approximately one in ten children.

One of the most common causes of liver failure (and the need for a transplant) is an irreversible condition called cryptogenic cirrhosis. While not completely understood, medical experts believe that a large number of cases of cryptogenic cirrhosis are actually due to undiagnosed late-stage NAFLD. With nationwide obesity rates climbing, it’s thought obesity-related liver disease will be the leading cause of liver failure and transplantation in the future.

Those who have risk factors for NAFLD, such as obesity or diabetes, should have their liver enzymes checked at least once a year. If your liver enzymes are elevated, you should be further evaluated for NAFLD. If excessive fat is discovered in the liver, it’s important to rule out other factors that could be causing it, such as alcohol, medications, or other liver diseases.

What’s Considered Obese?

Since obesity plays such a large role in liver disease, metabolic conditions, and cancer, it’s important to know whether your weight could be putting you at risk for serious health conditions. Normal body weight is considered between 25-30% body fat for women and 18-23% for men. Once body fat is over these thresholds, a person is considered obese.

Another easy way to determine if you’re obese is to calculate your body mass index (BMI). This formula takes a person’s height and weight into account to determine whether they’re overweight or obese. In adults, normal weight is between 20-24.9, BMI units, 25-29.9 for overweight, BMI between 30-39.9 is obese; anything over a BMI of 40 is considered morbidly obese.

Waist circumference can also help you estimate your potential risk. In addition to NAFLD, excessive abdominal fat can put you at risk of developing chronic obesity-related conditions. Men are considered obese with a waist circumference of more than 40 inches, and more than 35 inches for non-pregnant women.

Management of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

Currently, there are no specific medications or procedures to treat NAFLD. However, the lifestyle changes used to manage the condition can also manage or reverse many of the health issues associated with obesity, such as type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol, and metabolic syndrome. With some time and effort, these changes may even be able to reverse the early stages of liver disease.

Changing your lifestyle and diet are the best ways to improve liver function and prevent chronic health issues. Here are some effective tips to follow:

  • Lose weight if you’re currently overweight or obese
  • Eat a nutrient-dense diet, with a focus on vegetables, fruits, and whole grains
  • Decrease your intake of saturated fats and avoid trans fats entirely
  • Add healthy fats to your diet, especially Omega-3 fatty acids
  • Increase your fiber intake
  • Decrease your intake of sugar, high fructose corn syrup, and other high-glucose foods and beverages
  • Increase your activity level
  • Keep an eye on your cholesterol and blood glucose levels
  • Avoid alcohol

Additionally, it’s important to keep up with regular doctor’s appointments and report any new symptoms. Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease has not been shown to make it harder to lose weight, but you may need to be strict about your diet and exercise plan to see results. According to studies, losing just 10% of your total body weight can help improve liver enzymes and reduce liver inflammation.

Keep Your Liver Healthy with Dr. Hubert’s Medical Weight Loss Plans

Many chronic health conditions are associated with obesity, including NAFLD. The good news is that by losing weight, exercising, and eating a healthy diet, you can manage or prevent a variety of health concerns, including type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, and cancer.

If you’ve struggled to lose excess weight, a medical weight loss plan can give you the additional support you need. Dr. Hubert takes a holistic approach, incorporating behavior modification, nutritional counseling, and medical monitoring to create a personalized plan to help you lose weight and keep it off. Dr. Hubert’s medical weight loss programs have helped hundreds of clients meet their weight loss goals and improve their overall health. For more information, schedule a consultation today by calling (707) 575-THIN (8446).