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