The main cause of accumulation of fat in the liver is the exaggerated consumption of foods rich in fat and sugar associated with physical inactivity, which is a lack of physical activity and therefore this is a common condition in obese or overweight people. However, hepatic steatosis can also be caused by other factors such as:
- Prolonged fasting;
- Malnutrition caused by lack of protein in the diet;
- Insulin resistance;
- Type 2 diabetes;
- Excessive consumption of alcohol;
- High cholesterol or triglycerides;
- Chronic hepatitis C;
- Wilson's disease, a rare disease that manifests itself in childhood. Learn more at: Wilson's Disease.
The accumulation of fat in the liver can also be caused by postoperative situations of jejunal bypass surgery and by the use of drugs such as Betamethasone, Ciclesonide; Glicocorticoids; Estrogens, Tamoxifen or Amiodarone, for example.
Generally, hepatic steatosis does not produce symptoms being discovered on a routine examination, but it is important that it is treated properly to avoid its complications. The symptoms of fat in the liver can be poor digestion of food and feel the belly swollen. Check the complete list of symptoms and answer the questions to see if you can have hepatic steatosis.
Complications of excess fat in the liver
Complications of fatty accumulation in the liver depend on the patient's lifestyle and associated factors such as diabetes, obesity, or immune diseases. But, usually, a progressive inflammation of the liver happens that can lead to the appearance of serious diseases, like liver cirrhosis. Check out the symptoms of liver cirrhosis.
To avoid the consequences of fat accumulation in the liver it is recommended that the individual eat a diet rich in fruits and vegetables, avoiding to eat foods with much fat and sugar. In addition, you should also do regular exercise for at least 30 minutes a day. Learn in detail how the liver fat diet should look like in this video:
