đ Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) – Now called MAFLD (Metabolic Dysfunction–Associated Fatty Liver Disease)
đ Quick Facts:
#1 cause: Alcohol-related liver disease (ARLD) remains the most common cause in India.
#2 cause: MAFLD/NASH (Non-Alcoholic Steatohepatitis – the progressive form of fatty liver disease).- slowly becoming over number one
đŹ Why MAFLD/NASH is Rising in India:
Linked to obesity, type 2 diabetes, high triglycerides, and sedentary lifestyle.
Common in urban middle-aged adults, but now seen in young people and children too.
Silent for years, but can progress to:
Cirrhosis
Liver cancer (HCC)
Need for liver transplant
đ¨ Clinical Insights:
Up to 1 in 3 urban Indians may have some form of fatty liver.
NASH (a severe form) can lead to irreversible liver damage, even in non-drinkers.
It has overtaken hepatitis B/C as a leading cause in many transplant centers in India.
đ§ Expert Opinion from Dr. Chetan Kalal (Hepatologist, Mumbai):
“Fatty liver is not always harmless. NASH is now one of the fastest-growing causes of liver failure and transplant in India. The good news? It's reversible in early stages with the right care.”
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