5 Signs You Have "Too Much Fat" in Your Liver

Find out what steatosis is and how to recognize the symptoms.Anywhere on the body, including the liver, can accumulate fat. In the second-largest organ in the body, fat is normal in small levels, but excessive amounts can have harmful effects on health. According to the Cleveland Clinic, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, also known as steatosis, is a common condition that "occurs in people who aren't heavy drinkers," affecting one in three adults and one in 10 children in the United States. In some cases, it can result in liver damage, but the good news is that you can reverse it with healthy lifestyle changes and habits.eat this instead of that John Angstadt, MD, the director of bariatric and minimally invasive surgery at Staten Island University Hospital, spoke with Health about steatosis and the symptoms to look out for. Don't miss these Sure Signs You've Already Had COVID as you read on if you want to ensure your health and the health of others.

1 Why You Can Have Excess Fat in Your Liver

According to Dr. Angstadt, "The health concern regarding your liver and fat is fat that is deposited within the liver. Medically speaking, this condition is known as steatosis, and it occurs when the amount of fat in your liver exceeds 5% of its weight. You deposit fat in your liver when you eat too many calories.Steatosis can be brought on by any increase in caloric consumption. Alcohol and sugary drinks are frequently blamed for the problem since they increase calorie intake while offering little in the way of nutritional benefit. It is simple to consume a large number of calories in a short amount of time because we typically do not count liquid calories.

2 Who is at Risk

According to Dr. Angstadt, "Today most steatosis is related to your weight. Patients at risk are those with a body mass index over 30. Body mass index or BMI correlates your weight to your height and is a general indicator of whether you have excess weight on your body. As your BMI increases so does your risk of depositing fat into your liver. We also see steatosis in patients with diabetes, metabolic syndrome, and patients taking certain types of medications."

3 The Health Dangers of Steatosis

If the condition worsens, steatosis offers a serious concern, according to Dr. Angstadt. "In some patients, the fat in the liver causes an inflammatory response known as steatohepatitis, which can lead to scarring in the liver, the characteristic feature of cirrhosis. Once the scar tissue forms, it cannot be removed or treated, so the best treatment is to prevent the progression of the disease," according to the National Institutes of Health.

4 How to Get Rid of Fat in Your Liver

According to Dr. Angstadt, "Weight loss is the best way to reduce or eliminate the fat in your liver. You can lose weight with diet and exercise, but if you have a significant amount of weight to lose (BMI over 35), surgical options provide a better result. If you have diabetes, it's crucial that you get your condition under good control.Getting your diabetes under good control is essential if you have it. It is advised to stay away from all types of alcohol if you have been told you have a fatty liver. Finding a good program and support system, according to Dr. Angstadt, is beneficial. "Staten Island University Hospital has an extensive Medical and Surgical weight loss program. Using the latest medical advancements, we assist our patients achieve medically safe weight loss and lower their chance of contracting life-shortening diseases. Live longer and better."

5 5 Signs You Have Steatosis

Dr. Angstadt says, "Most patients with steatosis have no symptoms which is what makes the disease more dangerous. Some patients note the following symptoms:

1. Pain or fullness in the right upper quadrant over the liver
2. Loss of appetite
3. Nausea
4. Yellow color to eyes or skin (more advanced stages)
5. Swelling of your belly (more advanced stages)"