What Is a Fatty Liver?
2. Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver (NAFL)
Fatty liver occurs when there has been an excessive buildup of fat in liver cells. A healthy liver may have some fat, but no more than about 5%. Drinking excessive amounts of alcohol can contribute to fatty liver. However in most cases of fatty liver, alcohol is not a factor. The majority of fatty liver cases are classified as nonalcoholic fatty liver (NAFL).
At this stage of the disease, the damage can be reversible. However, NAFL often goes undiagnosed, allowing the condition to worsen until it becomes nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). When one suffers from NAFL, the excessive amount of fatty liver cells can cause liver inflammation. This problem is prevalent in the West thanks to poor diet and sedentary lifestyles. It is estimated as much as 30% of people may have NAFL.
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