Flourish Health & Wellbeing eMag - Latest Edition - Flipbook - Page 10
How is it diagnosed and monitored?
What supports a healthy
liver?
A liver-friendly lifestyle
also supports metabolic
health.
A Mediterranean-style eating
pattern is often recommended
because it supports heart and
metabolic health. This usually
includes plenty of vegetables,
legumes, wholegrains, fruit,
nuts, seeds, olive oil, 昀椀sh and
lean proteins, while limiting
highly processed foods, sugary
drinks, re昀椀ned carbohydrates
and excess saturated fat.
Physical activity is also
important. Regular movement
can help reduce liver fat, improve
insulin sensitivity and support
healthy weight management.
This does not have to mean
intense gym sessions. Brisk
walking, cycling, swimming,
resistance training, gardening
and active daily routines can all
help. The key is consistency.
Reducing alcohol intake is
also important, especially for
people who already have liver
in昀氀ammation or scarring. It
is best to discuss safe limits
with a health professional, as
advice may differ depending
on a person’s liver health and
overall risk.
Fatty liver disease may be suspected
after abnormal liver blood tests
or imaging that shows fat in the
liver. However, not everyone with
fatty liver disease has abnormal
blood tests, and not everyone with
abnormal liver enzymes has fatty
liver disease.
Health professionals may use a
combination of medical history,
blood tests, imaging and noninvasive 昀椀brosis scores to assess risk.
Some people may be referred for
a FibroScan or specialist review to
check liver stiffness and scarring. A
liver biopsy is now less common, but
may still be used in selected cases.
People at higher risk, such as those
with type 2 diabetes, obesity with
additional metabolic risk factors, or
abnormal liver enzymes, may need
closer monitoring.
Are there treatments?
For most people, lifestyle change
remains the foundation of treatment.
Managing related conditions such as
diabetes, high cholesterol and high
blood pressure is also essential.
There have been important
advances in medication for more
severe forms of fatty liver disease,
particularly MASH with moderate to
advanced 昀椀brosis. In some countries,
medications have now been approved
for speci昀椀c patients, alongside diet
and exercise. These treatments are
not suitable for everyone and should
only be considered under specialist
medical advice.
