logo
NAFLD: Sober but still at risk

NAFLD: Sober but still at risk

You may not feel it and there may be no symptoms at all. But deep inside your body, your liver could be quietly storing fat, even if you've never touched a drop of alcohol. That's the unnerving reality of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), a condition that's crawling into more lives than ever, silently and steadily.
What exactly do you mean by NAFLD? 'It is a condition where fat builds up in your liver, for reasons other than alcohol,' says Dr Narendra Teja Gogireddy, consultant surgical gastroenterologist at Apollo Hospitals, Hyderguda, further adding, 'This term is used for patients with chronic lifestyle diseases. In initial stages it is mild and reversible, however it can cause liver damage over time and lead to serious conditions like cirrhosis or liver failure.'
The condition often stems from everyday habits that seem harmless at first; a sedentary routine, meals loaded with sugar and processed carbs, and that familiar struggle with weight gain. 'People who drink little or no alcohol may develop NAFLD. People who are overweight or obese frequently exhibit it. The most prevalent type of liver disease in the world today is NAFLD. Although NAFLD in its early stages is typically benign and asymptomatic, it can develop into more severe forms such as Non-Alcoholic Steatohepatitis (NASH), which involves damage and inflammation of the liver. NASH can result in cirrhosis, scarring (fibrosis), and potentially liver failure or malignancy if treatment is not received,' explains Dr Naveen Polavarapu, senior consultant, medical gastroenterologist, liver specialist, lead, advanced endoscopic interventions & training, clinical director, Yashoda Hospitals, Hyderabad.
What's alarming is that NAFLD doesn't discriminate, 'Fat can build up in your liver even if you don't drink alcohol. This happens due to several factors like insulin resistance (often linked with type 2 diabetes or prediabetes), high cholesterol or triglyceride levels, poor diet (especially diets high in sugar and refined carbs), sedentary lifestyle (lack of physical activity), rapid weight loss or malnutrition, certain medications (like corticosteroids or some cancer drugs), hormonal imbalances or metabolic syndrome. These risk factors can lead to fat accumulation in liver cells, potentially causing inflammation, scarring, and liver damage over time if not managed,' says Dr Narendra.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

AP to launch NCD 4.0 survey with comprehensive reforms
AP to launch NCD 4.0 survey with comprehensive reforms

Hans India

time5 hours ago

  • Hans India

AP to launch NCD 4.0 survey with comprehensive reforms

Vijayawada: Minister for medical, health, and family welfare Y Satya Kumar Yadav announced that the Andhra Pradesh government will launch the Non-Communicable Diseases (NCD) 4.0 survey in September 2025. The current NCD 3.0 survey, launched on November 14, 2024, with a target to screen 4.1 crore people, has so far screened around 3 crore individuals and will continue through August. Addressing a workshop at China Kakani in Guntur district, the minister emphasised the need for better coordination among health workers to ensure accurate results in cancer detection under NCD 4.0. Drawing from personal experience — having lost his mother and sibling to cancer — he stressed the urgency of curbing its spread in the state. He revealed that Andhra Pradesh reports around 75,000 new cancer cases and 30,000 cancer-related deaths annually. NCDs now account for 68 per cent of all deaths in the state, surpassing the national average of 65 per cent. Oral cancer screenings reached 2.9 crore, while breast and cervical cancer screenings each reached 2 crore. However, only 0.35 per cent were diagnosed with cancer, a detection rate lower than the national average. The health minister attributed this discrepancy to several systemic gaps in NCD 3.0, including inadequate training, lack of public awareness, social stigma, poor field-level coordination, and minimal oversight. He admitted that although 70 per cent of the screening target was achieved, flaws in execution affected data reliability. NCD 4.0 will be launched with a structured action plan, real-time monitoring, improved training, and systemic reforms to enhance efficiency and accuracy in early detection, especially for cancer cases.

Most premature baby celebrates his 1st birthday with Guinness World Record
Most premature baby celebrates his 1st birthday with Guinness World Record

News18

time11 hours ago

  • News18

Most premature baby celebrates his 1st birthday with Guinness World Record

Washington, Jul 24 (AP) A baby born at only 21 weeks of gestation last July in Iowa City, Iowa, has just celebrated his first birthday, and among his gifts is a Guinness world record for most premature baby. Nash Keen was born on July 5, 2024 — 133 days earlier than the expected due date and weighing only 10 ounces (283 grams) — about the size of a bar of soap. He spent the next six months in the neonatal intensive care unit at the University of Iowa Health Care Stead Family Children's Hospital before he was allowed in January to go home to Ankeny, Iowa, with parents Mollie and Randall Keen. 'Nash is so full of personality. He's a happy baby," Mollie Keen said Wednesday, adding that he's slept through most nights since coming home from the NICU. 'Being in the NICU as long as he was, you'd think that he would be, you know, more fragile and stuff. And he's not. He's a very determined, curious little boy, and he's just all smiles all the time." Nash is among the growing number of extremely premature infants who are getting lifesaving treatment and surviving. Upon reaching his first birthday, Guinness World Records declared Nash the world's most premature baby, beating out by a single day the organization's previous record holder born in 2020 in Alabama. Nash's parents had already experienced the heartbreak of losing a baby when Mollie's first pregnancy ended in a miscarriage. That's when she learned of a medical condition she had that might make it difficult for her to carry to full term. Mollie worried she and her husband might lose Nash, too, when she learned at her 20-week prenatal checkup that she was already 2 centimeters dilated. Doctors don't typically try to perform lifesaving measures for babies born before 22 weeks gestation as most born that young can't survive. But Mollie learned the neonatal team at Stead Family Children's Hospital was performing lifesaving measures on babies born at 21 weeks gestation. She went into labor days before that benchmark, but with medical help, she was able to stall the birth to exactly 21 weeks. The next month was fraught with medical scares as an entire team of doctor's worked to keep Nash alive and thriving. 'One of the things I noticed about the medical team is that they were very calm," she recalled. 'You never really saw them, like, get anxious or anything. And so we kind of just learned to, like, watch them. And if, you know, if the doctors and the nurses weren't freaking out, there was no reason for us to freak out." Dr Malinda Schaefer, a high-risk obstetrician who delivered Nash just hours after he surpassed the 21-week mark, described his birth as a new frontier in maternal fetal medicine. Still, when consulting with the Keens before the birth, she didn't sugarcoat Nash's chances at survival or the likelihood that he would face serious medical complications if he did survive. 'Ultimately, it is not me that lives with the outcomes of parents' decisions, so it is really important to me to have honest and open conversations with parents, so they feel fully informed to make the best decision for them and their family," Schaefer said. While Nash has experienced some complications and developmental delays common to those born extremely prematurely, his progress has been as good as medical science could hope for, his doctors say. At just over a year old, Nash remains on oxygen to help him breathe and is fed solely through a feeding tube, although he's preparing to try pureed foods. He also has a minor heart defect, which his doctors believe will resolve itself as he gets older. He's not yet crawling, but he is rolling over. 'He's learning how to stand on his two feet, which is awesome," his mom said. 'He's got a lot of strength in those legs." (AP) AS AS view comments First Published: July 25, 2025, 01:45 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

4 diet mistakes that can worsen fatty liver, even if oil and sugar intake is moderate
4 diet mistakes that can worsen fatty liver, even if oil and sugar intake is moderate

Time of India

time12 hours ago

  • Time of India

4 diet mistakes that can worsen fatty liver, even if oil and sugar intake is moderate

With non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) cases rising, dietary choices are crucial. Excessive salt intake, often overlooked, can worsen the condition. Processed foods, including seemingly harmless items like white bread, also contribute to liver damage. Red meat and processed meats should be avoided, while adequate protein intake is essential for proper liver function and fat removal, according to recent studies. Fatty liver disease is becoming more common than ever. About 32% of the adults have non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), according to a recent study . Lifestyle factors play a key role in the rising number of cases. Among them is diet. People living with NAFLD often limit oil and sugar intake. While taking off or limiting these ingredients from the diet can help, that's not enough. Here are four mistakes people make when it comes to their diet that worsen fatty liver. Excessive salt consumption While most people consciously avoid added sugars, one ingredient that is overlooked is salt. Excessive sodium in the diet can increase the risk of NAFLD. Eating food loaded with salt may lead to insulin resistance, high blood pressure, and oxidative stress, all of which may contribute to the accumulation of fat in the liver. People with NAFLD or any liver ailments should limit sodium intake to less than 2,300 milligrams per day. Those with hypertension should cut back on salt. The intake should not be more than 1,500 mg per day. Eating processed foods Even if you are on a balanced and nutritious diet, sneaking processed foods in between may contribute to liver disease and worsening of the already existing conditions. Processed food is not just about chips and biscuits; even white bread and pasta count. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 15 most beautiful women in the world Undo White flour is often highly processed, and such foods raise your blood sugar more than whole grains, as they lack fiber. Processed foods are also loaded with oil, salt, sugar, and preservatives, which wreak havoc on health. Red meat consumption (Pic courtesy: iStock) People with fatty liver should avoid red meat at all costs. Studies have consistently shown that red meat consumption may worsen NAFLD. A 2022 study found that people who consumed red meat were at increased odds of NAFLD. The study also showed an association between organ meat consumption and NAFLD. Along with red meat, one should also avoid eating processed meats. Processed meats are high in both sodium and saturated fat, all of which contribute to fatty liver disease. These include bacon, hot dogs, deli meats like salami and pepperoni, and canned meats. Not eating enough protein (Pic courtesy: iStock) This may be surprising, but not getting adequate amounts of protein can lead to fat buildup. A deficiency in protein may affect the liver's ability to process and remove fats. A 2020 study found that a high-protein, calorie-reduced diet can cause the harmful liver fat to melt away more effectively than a low-protein diet. Focus on sticking to a low-calorie diet that is rich in high-quality protein such as lean meats, fish, eggs, or legumes. Keep your heart young post-30s with these 4 simple ways

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store