Increased risk of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease
The term ‘non-alcoholic fatty liver disease’ (NAFLD) refers to a range of conditions resulting from the accumulation of fat in cells inside the liver. It is one of the commonest forms of liver disease in the UK. If left untreated, it may progress to severe forms such as non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), fibrosis and cirrhosis. It has also been linked to liver cancer.
- Obesity is an important risk factor for the condition: over 66% of overweight people, and over 90% of obese individuals are at risk of NAFLD.
- As levels of obesity have risen, so has the prevalence of NAFLD. There is a lack of high quality data related to the prevalence of NAFLD in the UK. This is due to a number of factors including variations in diagnostic criteria, the invasive nature of diagnosis, and the lack of symptoms in people with mild forms of the condition.
- Approaches to tackling the condition focus on weight reduction through a combination of diet and physical activity, but there is no specific evidence-based treatment for NAFLD.
- Scientific understanding of the condition is limited, and there is a lack of high quality data on it. The impact of rising obesity levels on the prevalence and severity of NAFLD is not known, nor are the natural history or optimal management of the condition. There is a lack of scientific consensus on just how significant a threat to health NAFLD presents. In order to explore these issues in more detail we held an initial expert workshop in October 2013, and are continuing to develop this work in PHE and with external partners.
- Improvements in outcomes from NAFLD will require better data collection through primary and secondary care, death certification, and transplant registers, as well as research into the causes and treatment of the condition.