Is fatty liver caused by eating too much fat?

More than once, someone came to consult me ​​with "fatty liver" on their physical examination report, saying that they were not fat and ate very green food, so why did they have fatty liver? Indeed, fatty liver is common in many people with obesity and metabolic problems, and some fatty liver may indeed be related to intake, but fatty liver is not entirely caused by obesity and diet. There are many misunderstandings here, and we will sort them out today.

1. Fatty liver does not mean eating too much fat

It is a common misconception that "fatty liver equals excessive fat intake." In fact, the term "fatty liver" is used to describe the pathological state of liver tissue. The full name is "fatty degeneration of hepatocytes". The "fatty liver" seen by ultrasound, CT, etc. during physical examinations refers to the macroscopic manifestation of diffuse fatty degeneration of the liver. Liver cells are the key site of fat metabolism, so problems in any aspect of fat metabolism in liver cells, such as disorders in the decomposition and transfer of fatty acids, excessive fat synthesis, liver cell poisoning and malnutrition, can all lead to fat accumulation in liver cells, not just due to excessive fat intake. Therefore, simply eating a light diet may not necessarily solve the problem of fatty liver. We need to realize that fatty liver disease is much more complicated than it sounds.

2. Obesity + fatty liver, the problem may not be simple

If someone who is obviously obese, especially someone with a big belly, is diagnosed with fatty liver, it may not be as simple as eating a light diet. Medical research in recent years has shown that obesity, especially "abdominal obesity", is closely related to various systemic metabolic problems and is by no means just a lifestyle issue. Among non-alcoholic people, more than 70% of people with fatty liver are also obese, 75% also have type 2 diabetes, more than half have dyslipidemia, and many show signs of insulin resistance. Obesity and metabolic diseases are likely to be a syndrome with a causal relationship, and fatty liver may be the result of abnormal fat metabolism. Therefore, if a fat person is diagnosed with fatty liver, he or she should also pay attention to his or her blood sugar, blood lipids and blood pressure over the long term. Of course, whether it is that serious or not, losing weight is very important. You should pay attention to the changes in weight while also paying attention to your waist circumference. People with a large waist circumference may have a lot of visceral fat accumulation, which is closely related to various metabolic diseases and cardiovascular diseases.

3. Fatty liver may also be the result of alcohol damage to the liver

Some people who often socialize and are diagnosed with fatty liver during a physical examination, their first reaction is to pat their belly and say, "Guess I have to eat lighter food in the future!" In fact, their biggest problem may not be eating, but drinking. After people drink alcohol, the alcohol enters the liver for degradation. A large amount of alcohol decomposition products are obviously toxic to liver cells. Early liver damage may manifest as alcoholic fatty liver, commonly known as "alcoholic liver". Both long-term alcohol abuse and short-term binge drinking have such harmful effects. Persistent alcohol damage can also lead to alcoholic hepatitis, cirrhosis, abnormal liver function, etc., and the risk of liver cancer is significantly higher than that of ordinary people. For people who drink a lot and develop fatty liver, it is necessary to quit drinking and seek medical treatment.

4. Drug side effects and hepatitis can also lead to fatty liver

Since poisoning and damage to liver cells can lead to fatty liver, can other factors that damage the liver also cause it? It's entirely possible. It is now clear that some drugs with liver side effects may cause fatty liver if taken for a long time, such as common hormone drugs and the antiarrhythmic drug amiodarone. Therefore, if you have to use this drug for a long time, your doctor will recommend that you check your liver function regularly and adjust the medication regimen if any abnormalities are found. In addition, viral hepatitis, especially hepatitis C, may also manifest as fatty liver in the early stages.

5. Very thin people may suffer from fatty liver

There are also some people who are not fat, do not drink alcohol, do not take medicine, do not have hepatitis, and eat very little and light food, but they are also diagnosed with fatty liver. Why is this?

Because the liver not only synthesizes and breaks down fat, it also has a storage function. When the liver encounters "hunger", it will think that the human body has entered a "famine" state, so it begins "wartime mobilization", storing large amounts of fat and reducing the decomposition and transportation of fat in preparation for emergencies. Therefore, people who suffer from long-term malnutrition, excessive dieting, etc. may also develop fatty liver. Therefore, the method of weight loss should be scientific and reasonable. You should not give up the necessary energy intake or ignore dietary balance just for the sake of losing weight.

Fatty liver itself is not a serious disease, but because it is closely related to other health problems, if you find fatty liver, you cannot simply say that you should eat lighter food. You should also further investigate the cause.