Fatty liver disease is a condition in which there is an accumulation of excess fat in the liver cells. A healthy liver contains a small amount of fat, but when fat accounts for more than 5% to 10% of the livers weight, it becomes a problem. There are two main types of fatty liver disease:
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Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD): This is the most common type of fatty liver disease and is not caused by alcohol consumption. The exact cause of NAFLD is unknown, but it is often associated with obesity, insulin resistance, high blood sugar, high levels of fats in the blood, and metabolic syndrome.
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Alcoholic fatty liver disease (ALD): This type of fatty liver disease is caused by heavy alcohol consumption. The liver breaks down most of the alcohol you drink, but the process of breaking it down can generate harmful substances that can damage liver cells, promote inflammation, and weaken your bodys natural defenses.
The exact cause of fatty liver disease is not fully understood, but there are several risk factors that can increase the likelihood of developing the condition, including:
- Obesity or being overweight
- Insulin resistance, prediabetes, or type 2 diabetes
- High levels of fats, particularly triglycerides, in the blood
- Metabolic syndrome
- High cholesterol or high levels of triglyce...
