Causes and Treatment of Fatty Liver

Written by Si Li Li
Gastroenterology
Updated on May 17, 2025
00:00
00:00

Fatty liver and other causes include rapid weight gain, obesity, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, diabetes, as well as a high-calorie diet, cholesterol, trans fats, consuming sugary beverages in excess, overeating, sitting too long, lack of physical activity, smoking, drinking, and hypothyroidism, all of which can lead to fatty liver. The treatment of fatty liver begins with general measures, including weight loss for obese patients, maintaining healthy dietary habits, quitting smoking and alcohol, controlling caloric intake, and exercising appropriately, such as persisting in 20 minutes of aerobic exercise each day, five days a week. Additionally, there is pharmacological treatment, which involves medications that control blood lipids and other related treatments.

Other Voices

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Wu Hai Wu
Gastroenterology
49sec home-news-image

What is fatty liver?

Fatty liver is a pathological condition caused by excessive accumulation of fat in liver cells due to various reasons, which impairs the liver's normal functions. This is a relatively common liver pathology. Patients may experience symptoms like fatigue, nausea, vomiting, and discomfort in the upper right abdomen, primarily treated in the departments of gastroenterology and hepatology. The population at higher risk includes patients with diabetes, alcohol abuse, obesity, and those who have undergone excessive weight loss. Fatty liver can also occur during pregnancy. Patients may experience impaired liver function, and in severe cases, they may develop fatty liver hepatitis or fatty liver cirrhosis.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Li Xue Qing
Gastroenterology
36sec home-news-image

What department should I visit for fatty liver?

Fatty liver is a disease that indicates a metabolic disorder and is considered a type of digestive system disease, as well as a liver disease. In top-tier hospitals, there is generally a hepatology department where one can seek treatment at their outpatient clinic. In slightly less equipped county-level secondary hospitals or third-tier hospitals, which do not have a hepatology outpatient clinic, one can visit the gastroenterology outpatient clinic. Additionally, basic health clinics, which do not have a gastroenterology outpatient clinic, require visiting a general internal medicine outpatient clinic.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Si Li Li
Gastroenterology
49sec home-news-image

What should I do if I have mild fatty liver?

Mild fatty liver primarily requires dietary adjustments. It is necessary to quit smoking and drinking, and avoid high-calorie, high-fat foods such as greasy, rich dishes, fried foods, and animal organs. It is beneficial to consume light, easily digestible foods, such as fruits and vegetables. Secondly, increasing physical activity is important because exercise can metabolize fats, which positively impacts patients with mild fatty liver. Thirdly, control of blood lipids is crucial. If hyperlipidemia occurs, it should be treated with medication to lower blood lipids. Fourthly, maintain a regular routine and avoid excessive fatigue or staying up late.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Zhu Dan Hua
Gastroenterology
1min 29sec home-news-image

Can fatty liver be cured?

Fatty liver is relatively common in clinical practice, often seen in obese patients or those who consume alcohol excessively. Fatty liver is also categorized as mild, moderate, or severe in clinical settings. Generally, mild fatty liver does not accompany liver function abnormalities. For such patients, the main approach involves appropriate weight loss, exercise, and dietary control. If there are indeed complications like cirrhosis or more severe liver disease, including abnormal liver functions, systematic diagnosis and treatment are recommended. Besides completing abdominal ultrasound and liver function tests, it is also suggested to conduct quantitative hepatitis B virus tests to eliminate the possibility of hepatitis B virus-induced steatosis. Generally, fatty liver can be treated successfully; however, if it is complicated by cirrhosis, the main principle of treatment is to prevent complications, and complete cure may not be possible. Therefore, regarding fatty liver, there is no need for excessive worry, but standard treatment should be followed. Particularly if the fatty liver is complicated by cirrhosis, active diagnosis and treatment are generally recommended.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Huang Gang
Gastroenterology
48sec home-news-image

Can fatty liver be contagious?

Fatty liver has many causes, the most common being obesity, as well as alcohol; long-term excessive drinking can cause alcoholic fatty liver. Other causes include malnutrition or long-term excessive use of certain medications, including anti-inflammatory drugs and corticosteroids, which can significantly damage the liver. Drugs used to lower blood lipids can also lead to fatty liver. Fatty liver is caused by these factors, not by an infection from a particular bacterium or virus, so it is not contagious. If you have fatty liver, it is recommended to exercise regularly under the guidance of a doctor. There are no shortcuts; only exercise can eliminate fatty liver.