What causes fatty liver?

Written by Wo Cheng
Hepatology
Updated on April 14, 2025
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Fatty liver refers to a pathological condition characterized by the accumulation of excessive fat in liver cells, caused by various factors and marked by diffuse fatty changes in liver cells, constituting a clinical syndrome. When too much fat accumulates inside liver cells, it impairs normal liver function, a condition we refer to as fatty liver. The main causes include long-term diets high in fats, calories, and sugars leading to obesity-induced fatty liver, chronic alcohol consumption leading to alcoholic fatty liver, and hereditary obesity factors causing fatty liver. Based on the extent of fatty degeneration in liver cells, fatty liver can be classified into mild, moderate, and severe fatty liver. Fatty liver could potentially lead to liver cirrhosis, which may cause liver cancer. Upon diagnosis of fatty liver, dietary control, abstaining from alcohol, and active exercise are necessary for treatment.

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Written by Wu Peng
Gastroenterology
1min 10sec home-news-image

The best method to eliminate fatty liver.

For the treatment of fatty liver, the general treatment first needs to identify the cause. For example, patients who drink alcohol excessively need to quit drinking; patients who are obese due to excessive nutrition should control their diet to help return their weight to normal; patients with concurrent diabetes should actively and effectively control their blood sugar; patients with malnutrition-related fatty liver should appropriately increase their nutrition intake, especially of proteins and vitamins. Secondly, adjust the dietary structure by appropriately increasing the intake of proteins and fiber while aiming for a low-sugar, low-fat diet. Minimize consumption of animal fats and eat more vegetables, fruits, foods rich in fiber, and high-protein foods, such as lean meats, fish, and soy products. Most importantly, increase physical exercise to promote the consumption of fats within the body. Aerobic exercises, such as jogging, cycling, swimming, and jumping rope, should be the exercises of choice.

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Written by Wo Cheng
Hepatology
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Can people with fatty liver smoke?

Patients with fatty liver disease should also appropriately quit smoking or reduce the frequency of smoking. The treatment for severe fatty liver disease mainly includes a reasonable diet, appropriate exercise, as well as choosing to quit smoking and drinking, controlling diet properly, increasing physical exercise, removing the cause of the disease, and actively treating the primary disease. Although smoking mainly causes damage to the lungs, nicotine in cigarettes can also damage liver cells. When people with fatty liver disease smoke excessively, it can exacerbate the condition. It also damages liver cells, so people with fatty liver disease also need to quit smoking or reduce the frequency of smoking. People with fatty liver disease should regularly monitor liver function and undergo imaging tests of the liver to timely monitor the condition and actively enhance physical exercise to control the cause of the disease.

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Written by Wo Cheng
Hepatology
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How to treat the symptoms of fatty liver disease?

The treatment of fatty liver symptoms primarily requires distinguishing the type of fatty liver, which includes alcoholic fatty liver, nonalcoholic fatty liver (simple fatty liver), and steatohepatitis. For alcoholic fatty liver, the first step is to abstain from alcohol. Additionally, it is important to avoid high-fat and greasy foods in the diet. When alcoholic liver damage occurs, if the liver function is severely impaired, treatment with liver-protective, enzyme-lowering, and jaundice-reducing medications may be necessary. For nonalcoholic fatty liver, which is caused by being overweight or having a large waist circumference, treatment involves controlling weight and reducing waist size. Combined with appropriate physical exercise, reducing weight and waist size can help improve fatty liver. The diet should also limit high-fat, greasy, and high-sugar foods, focusing on light and easily digestible food, supplemented with an adequate amount of protein. For people with steatohepatitis, treatment usually involves intravenous infusions of liver-protective, enzyme-lowering, and jaundice-reducing medications.

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Written by Ren Zheng Xin
Gastroenterology
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Do fatty livers need to be treated?

Fatty liver refers to the excessive accumulation of fat in liver cells. For mild fatty liver, clinical symptoms are not obvious, and there are not many abnormal indicators during physical examinations. In such cases, one can adjust the diet and increase exercise appropriately to promote the consumption of fat in the body. If there is a significant liver function abnormality, increased transaminases, and symptoms of nausea and vomiting, one can choose to use medications that protect the liver, reduce lipids, and provide antioxidants for treatment. At the same time, it is important to maintain a positive mindset and regularly visit the hospital for follow-up checks. (The use of medications should be under the guidance of a doctor.)

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Written by Si Li Li
Gastroenterology
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How to treat severe fatty liver?

The treatment of severe fatty liver is not significantly different from that of mild to moderate fatty liver in terms of medication. The main aspects of treating severe fatty liver include: Firstly, general treatment, which encompasses a healthy diet, appropriate exercise, weight control, and avoiding liver damage. Secondly, medication treatment: Due to large individual differences, there is no absolute, best, quickest, or most effective medication. Apart from using common over-the-counter drugs, it is important to select the appropriate medication based on individual circumstances. Additionally, surgical treatment options are available. For patients with severe obesity and type 2 diabetes, or for those with moderate cases but ineffective control of blood sugar through conservative treatment, weight loss surgery can be considered. Furthermore, combining treatment with traditional Chinese medicine and herbs can also yield excellent results for severe fatty liver.