Fatty liver occurs when there is excessive fat in the liver. It’s quite common, especially among those with diabetes and who are overweight.
What is Fatty Liver?
The liver is the main organ in the body for processing food and waste materials. A healthy liver contains little to no fat. However, if you consume too much alcohol or overeat, your body converts the excess calories into fat, which gets stored in liver cells. When fat makes up more than 5% to 10% of the total weight of the liver, fatty liver is present. With the increase in people’s consumption of added sugars and added fats, fatty liver is becoming more prevalent.
Symptoms of Fatty Liver Disease
Often, fatty liver disease doesn’t cause symptoms. But those who do experience symptoms may feel tired or generally unwell, have pain in the upper right part of the abdomen, or lose weight. More serious fatty liver disease may be indicated by symptoms like yellow eyes and skin (jaundice), bruising, dark urine, a swollen tummy, vomiting blood, black stools, or itchy skin. If you notice any of these symptoms, it’s advisable to see a doctor.
