Ask most people what the number one liver problem is, and they’ll probably say “cirrhosis.” But cirrhosis is no longer the most common liver-related condition facing citizens of the U.S. and Canada.

Obesity has taken over the top spot in both the United States and Canada. Obesity is a serious threat to liver function for a wide range of reasons, but especially because of a disorder known as fatty liver disease.

Public health officials in both the U.S. and Canada generally agree that obesity, due to poor nutrition and lack of exercise, damages more livers than cirrhosis, which is often brought on by alcohol abuse. Put another way, there are more heavy people than there are heavy drinkers, so it’s no wonder that fatty liver disease diagnoses have accelerated.

Let’s take a few seconds to describe how the liver functions. It will help you understand why obesity and fatty liver disease compromise liver health.

The liver performs dozens of important jobs in the human body. One of its major roles is metabolizing the food we eat. But when we eat too much or don’t exercise enough, large droplets of fat start to accumulate in the liver. As these fat droplets build up, the liver starts to produce more enzymes, which can cause inflammation of liver tissue. The inflammation eventually causes scarring and cirrhosis, in which liver tissue hardens and liver function decreases.

The name fatty liver disease, therefore, is a perfect description of what happens when you have it.

Recent studies have revealed that approximately twenty percent of Americans have some degree of fatty liver disease (which is also called fatty liver syndrome). According to the Canadian Liver Foundation, fatty liver disease is now the fastest growing and most prevalent liver problem in Canada.

Fatty liver is also dangerous because you usually don’t know you have it until it has already done a lot of damage. Symptoms eventually will appear though, including:

• right-side abdominal pain
• fever
• itichiness
• yellowing of the skin, or jaundice

If you have any of these symptoms, you should talk to your doctor about them as soon as you can. He or she can run some liver function tests. If the tests show that your liver has grown (known as an enlarged liver) and your liver enzymes have become elevated, then you probably have fatty liver disease.

Liver function tests can be a valuable tool for diagnosing fatty liver disease in the early stages. Your doctor may suggest them for you if you’re getting obese and don’t get much exercise, even if you don’t yet have any symptoms.

Treatment options for fatty liver disease depend on the cause. Even though fatty liver disease can be dangerous if left untreated, the liver can often return to a healthy state through simple lifestyle changes. If you can bring your weight down by getting some exercise and eating a healthier diet, it’s likely that your liver can return to normal. Liver function will also improve if you cut back or completely eliminate your alcohol intake. If you have diabetes, it’s extremely important to watch your blood sugar levels closely.

If you want additional information on subjects related to this article, click on How Obesity and Fatty Liver Disease Threatnen Your Health and Liver Disease and Liver Pain. Neal Kennedy is a retired TV news anchor, medical reporter and radio talk show host. He is a frequent contributor to Liver Health Articles, a resource website about liver health and digestive wellness.

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