| Along with the increasing incidence of obesity and | | | | affects more women than men and is found in all age |
| diabetes in Western countries, nonalcoholic fatty liver | | | | groups, including children. Nonalcoholic fatty liver |
| disease (NAFLD) has also become a growing problem. | | | | disease is typically diagnosed in middle-aged people |
| Although its true prevalence is unknown, some | | | | who are overweight, diabetic and who have elevated |
| estimates suggest NAFLD may already affect as | | | | cholesterol and triglyceride levels. A person is |
| many as one-third of American adults.NAFLD | | | | considered to have a fatty liver when the fat makes |
| describes two conditions affecting people who drink | | | | up at least 10% of the liver.Causes of Fatty Liver |
| little or no alcohol. The first is a mild condition, while | | | | The cause of NAFLD is unclear. The most prominent |
| the second represents its progression to a more | | | | reasons for accumulation of fat in the liver are |
| severe disease.1. Fatty liver, also known as steatosis, | | | | significant weight gain and diabetes mellitus. Fatty liver |
| is an accumulation of fat in the liver that typically | | | | can also occur with poor diet and certain illnesses, |
| does not cause liver damage.2. Nonalcoholic | | | | such as tuberculosis, intestinal bypass surgery for |
| steatohepatitis (NASH) is the accumulation of fat in | | | | obesity, and specific drugs such as corticosteroids, or |
| the liver accompanied by hepatic inflammation. Fibrous | | | | heavy alcohol use. Eating fatty food by itself does |
| tissue can form with NASH, which can progress to | | | | not produce a fatty liver. |
| cirrhosis or liver cancer.Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease | | | | |