Flourish Health & Wellbeing eMag - Latest Edition - Flipbook - Page 8
What are the symptoms?
Why does fat build up in the liver?
The liver is a hardworking organ. It helps
process nutrients, 昀椀lter toxins, produce bile
for digestion, store energy and regulate many
important chemicals in the body. When the
body regularly receives more energy than
it needs, particularly from highly processed
foods, sugary drinks and excess calories, the
liver can begin storing more fat.
Fatty liver disease is strongly linked with
insulin resistance. Insulin is the hormone that
helps move sugar from the bloodstream into
the body’s cells. When the body becomes
resistant to insulin, blood sugar levels can rise
and the liver may produce and store more fat.
Several factors can increase the risk of fatty
liver disease, including:
• Carrying excess weight, particularly around
the waist
• Type 2 diabetes or prediabetes
• High cholesterol or high triglycerides
• High blood pressure
• Low levels of physical activity
• A diet high in added sugars, re昀椀ned
carbohydrates and saturated fats
• Polycystic ovary syndrome
• Sleep apnoea
• Some medications
• Family history or genetic risk
Alcohol can contribute to liver fat and damage.
Metabolic risk factors and alcohol-related liver
stress may occur together, increasing the
burden on the liver.
One of the challenges
with fatty liver disease
is that it often causes
no symptoms in the
early stages. Many
people feel completely
well. It may only
be picked up after
routine blood tests
show abnormal liver
enzymes, or after an
ultrasound, CT scan or
other imaging test.
When symptoms do
occur, they can be
vague. Some people
experience fatigue,
discomfort or a dull
ache in the upper right
side of the abdomen,
or a general sense of
feeling unwell. In more
advanced liver disease,
symptoms may include
yellowing of the skin
or eyes, swelling in the
abdomen or legs, easy
bruising, confusion, or
unexplained weight
loss. These signs
require urgent medical
attention.
Because symptoms
can be absent, people
with metabolic risk
factors should speak
with their GP or
health professional
about whether liver
health checks are
appropriate.
