Harm of Fatty Liver to the Body

Written by Xie Zheng Yuan
Gastroenterology
Updated on February 16, 2025
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Fatty liver has become a common disease in modern people and it can bring potentially great harm to the body.

Firstly, fatty liver can cause steatohepatitis, leading to elevated transaminases and causing inflammatory changes in the liver, damaging liver function. Long-term liver damage can lead to cirrhosis, and the likelihood of fatty liver turning into liver cancer also significantly increases. At the same time, most patients with fatty liver have abnormalities in lipid metabolism, are likely to have comorbidities like high blood sugar and high blood pressure, which could damage various systems throughout the body.

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How to treat hepatitis B coexisting with fatty liver?

The coexistence of hepatitis B and fatty liver can exacerbate liver damage and may also affect the treatment efficacy of hepatitis B virus. For patients with both hepatitis B and fatty liver, in addition to monitoring and treatment for hepatitis B, it is important to adjust their diet and lifestyle, limit fat intake, engage in physical exercise, and promptly eliminate fatty liver. For carriers of the hepatitis B virus, before initiating antiviral therapy, if liver function abnormalities occur, it is necessary to determine whether the liver damage is due to fatty liver or active hepatitis B virus. Treatments can include protecting the liver and eliminating fatty liver. If the response to treatment is unsatisfactory, antiviral treatment for hepatitis should be considered.

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Is moderate fatty liver serious?

Moderate fatty liver is considered a relatively severe condition, mainly caused by the excessive accumulation of fat tissue in the liver. Generally, moderate fatty liver can cause varying degrees of inflammatory changes in liver cells. It can be roughly divided into three stages: the first stage is simple fatty liver, the second stage is steatohepatitis, and the third stage is fatty liver fibrosis, also known as steatotic liver cirrhosis. Many factors can cause fatty liver, such as obesity, alcohol consumption, and drug toxicity. If a patient experiences indigestion, diarrhea, or loss of appetite, the possibility of fatty liver should be considered. It is advisable to visit a hospital for an upper abdominal CT scan or an abdominal ultrasound to confirm the diagnosis. The treatment mainly involves three aspects: removing the cause, dietary adjustment, and medication.

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How to improve diet for fatty liver

Patients with fatty liver should pay attention to a reasonable diet, ensuring three meals are balanced, both coarse and refined, eating more vegetables and fruits as well as whole grains, and eating less greasy and spicy foods, especially avoiding the intake of animal fats, and strictly abstaining from smoking and drinking. While adjusting the diet, it is important to engage in appropriate physical activities, such as jogging, playing table tennis, and practicing Tai Chi, to enhance the consumption of fat in the body. Be cautious when using medication to avoid liver-toxic drugs, maintain a positive attitude, and try not to get angry. (Medication should be used under the guidance of a doctor.)

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What should I do about moderate fatty liver?

In cases of moderate fatty liver, it is essential to be very cautious about diet, strictly abstaining from smoking and drinking, and avoiding greasy foods. Additionally, engaging in appropriate physical exercise is advisable, ideally maintaining over half an hour of activity daily, which can boost immunity and prevent weight gain, potentially exacerbating the condition otherwise. Fatty liver is a reversible disease, but if not promptly addressed, it can progress to cirrhosis. Therefore, a light diet should be the primary focus, avoiding fried foods and high-fat foods, including animal organs. Regular follow-up visits to the hospital are also necessary.

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Can mild fatty liver heal itself?

Mild fatty liver can potentially be cured. Mild fatty liver refers to a lesser accumulation of fat in the liver. If one can effectively control their diet and enhance physical exercise, healing can be achieved. Fatty liver means that a large number of fat cells are not consumed and accumulate in the liver, causing damage to the liver cells, which we call fatty liver. In people with mild fatty liver, there is less fat accumulated in the liver. If one can persist in effectively controlling their diet while also appropriately strengthening physical exercise, self-healing can occur. People with fatty liver also need to regularly monitor liver function for any changes. If there is liver damage, it may be necessary to receive appropriate treatment with liver-protecting drugs. If liver function is normal, simply exercising reasonably and controlling diet can alleviate symptoms and signs.