Epidemic of Liver Disease Linked to Obesity
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), a condition which can lead to cirrhosis and liver cancer, is on the increase in the U.S. While there is no confirmed cause of NAFLD, many experts say weight loss and increased physical activity are good starting points to help prevent or slow the progress of the condition.
Friday, January 14, 2005
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Listen to MedMinute AudioAmerica's overeating habit is leading to more and more health problems. One of these is the alarming increase in liver disease. Anna Mae Diehl, chief of gastroenterology at Duke University Medical Center, says non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, or NAFLD, has become much more widespread as the obesity crisis has worsened. If your liver is more than 10 percent fats, you may be at increased risk for developing cirrhosis or even liver cancer. The condition can be diagnosed by ultrasound or blood tests and must be confirmed by a liver biopsy. As for risk factors, Diehl says one of the most common is obesity. I'm Cabell Smith for MedMinute.
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