Why do thin people still have fatty liver?

Specialist Doctor 2 Lam Nguyen Thuy An, University of Medicine and Pharmacy Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City - Facility 3 said that fatty liver, also known as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), is a condition of fat accumulation in the liver that is not related to alcohol consumption. Usually, this disease is associated with obesity, type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome. However, many studies have shown that thin people are also at risk of this disease, and many people are even subjective, leading to serious complications.

People who are thin or have a normal body mass index (BMI) can still have fatty liver.

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According to Dr. Thuy An, although obesity is the main risk factor, people with a thin body or normal body mass index (BMI) can still get fatty liver. A 2019 study in the journal Gastroenterology showed that the rate of fatty liver disease among obese people is about 50-70%, the rest belong to the thin group. In Vietnam, nearly 30 million people have fatty liver, of which 30-35% are at risk of developing cirrhosis. There are currently no specific statistics on the rate of thin people with the disease, but clinical practice shows that this is not an uncommon condition.

What are the main causes of fatty liver in thin people?

Visceral fat is the type of fat that accumulates around the liver, blood vessels, and intestines. Unlike subcutaneous fat, visceral fat is more likely to cause metabolic diseases, even in people with thin bodies. Normally, the liver converts sugar into energy. If the body lacks sugar (due to inadequate diet or excessive weight loss), the liver is forced to use fat instead. The amount of fat accumulated in the liver over time will cause accumulation and disease.

Genetics and metabolic disorders : Some people have genes that make them susceptible to fat metabolism disorders, increasing their risk of fatty liver.

Diabetes and insulin resistance : High blood sugar makes the liver more susceptible to fat storage, even in people who are not overweight.

Unbalanced diet : Consuming a lot of saturated fat, sugar, and processed foods can increase fat accumulation in the liver, although it does not cause significant weight gain.

Unscientific vegetarianism or excessive abstinence causes the body to lack essential nutrients, causing imbalance in fat metabolism.

Lack of exercise : People who are thin but sedentary are also at risk of fat metabolism disorders, leading to fatty liver. Side effects of drugs and other factors.

Certain medications such as corticosteroids, tamoxifen, and amiodarone derivatives can increase fat accumulation in the liver. Smoking and drinking a lot of alcohol, even if you don't gain weight, can still damage the liver and cause fat accumulation.

Unscientific vegetarianism can also cause imbalance in fat metabolism.

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Symptoms and diagnosis?

Fatty liver often has no obvious symptoms in the early stages. Some cases may experience prolonged fatigue, a feeling of heaviness, discomfort in the upper right abdomen; blood tests may show increased liver enzymes; ultrasound, CT scan or liver biopsy can detect fat accumulation.

If left unchecked, fatty liver can progress to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), leading to cirrhosis, liver failure, and even liver cancer.

How to prevent and treat?

Whether you are thin or not, to protect your liver you need to:

• Maintain a healthy diet: Eat plenty of vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and protein.
• Limit sugar, processed foods, animal fats, and alcoholic beverages.
• Increase exercise: Exercise at least 30 minutes/day, maintain exercise habits to support more effective fat metabolism.
• Control underlying medical conditions: If you have diabetes, dyslipidemia, high blood pressure, control them closely as directed by your doctor.
• Avoid risk factors: Do not smoke, limit alcohol.
• Be careful when using drugs that can harm the liver, always consult your doctor.
• Regular health check-ups: Regular health check-ups are required annually for normal people and at least twice for people with underlying diseases to comprehensively control their health status. For patients with underlying diseases that need monitoring, they should follow the doctor's instructions to ensure that their condition is controlled at a safe level.

"Fatty liver is not only a disease of overweight people. Thin people, if they have an unhealthy lifestyle or metabolic disorders, are also at high risk of getting the disease. Understanding the causes and adjusting your lifestyle appropriately will help you prevent and protect your liver health effectively," Dr. Thuy An shared.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/vi-sao-nguoi-gay-van-bi-gan-nhiem-mo-185250327100048873.htm