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Weight loss, a calorie-deficit diet, increased physical activity, alcohol avoidance, and controlling metabolic syndrome are recommended for managing fatty liver
KOLKATA: Health experts attribute the rising cases of fatty liver in India to a sedentary lifestyle, increased consumption of commercial processed food, smoking, and early-age alcohol consumption.
The condition, characterized by excessive fat buildup in the liver, is associated with risk factors like obesity and type 2 diabetes.
A government survey in 2019 revealed that 14.6 per cent of people aged 10 to 75 consume alcohol, with a higher prevalence among men at 27.3 per cent compared to women at 1.6 per cent. India’s alcohol consumption is projected to increase from 5 billion liters in 2020 to 6.21 billion liters by 2024.
Fast food consumption in India is rapidly increasing, with the country ranking 10th globally in per capita spending, with a whopping 40 per cent growth per year.
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Dr. Anil Arora, chairman of the Institute of Liver, Gastroenterology, and Pancreatico-Biliary Sciences at Delhi’s Sir Gangaram hospital highlights the imbalance between diet and exercise as a major contributor to fatty liver. “Easy availability of dense calories of food and lack of exercise are the two major causes of deposition of excessive fat in the liver.”
“There is an imbalance between what you need, what you eat and how much you exercise,” said Dr Arora, blaming the shift in the labour market from labour intensive to machine oriented.
He points out the presence of fructose in syrups, soft drinks, and sweeteners, which tends to accumulate in the liver, especially when combined with high carbohydrate and sugar intake.
Heavy alcohol consumption is a worrisome trend, affecting not only middle-aged and elderly individuals but also prime-aged youth – which sometimes leads to the requirement of liver transplantation. The ease of availability, government revenue generation, and liberalization are cited as factors contributing to increased alcohol intake.
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Shreya Shah, founder of Healthfuel and Clinical Nutritionist, emphasizes a holistic approach to treat fatty liver. Alongside sedentary lifestyles and obesity, heavy metal toxicity from lead and mercury found in food and industrial areas can also play a role, particularly in rural India.
The type of oil used for cooking, particularly refined oil, contributes to liver inflammation and fatty liver. Cheap, processed foods like biscuits, chips, and wafers are prevalent in rural areas, along with increased consumption of Maggie.
People between 28 to 40 years, particularly males, are more commonly affected by fatty liver.
Weight loss, a calorie-deficit diet, increased physical activity, alcohol avoidance, and controlling metabolic syndrome are recommended for managing fatty liver and preventing related lifestyle diseases like diabetes and cholesterol issues.
