How common is a fatty liver?
Recent surveys have shown fatty liver to be much more common than previously recognized. In fact, it has become the most common cause of abnormal liver enzymes (blood tests) in the US population. It now affects about 25% of all adult Americans. Who gets it? The typical patient is overweight and diabetic, although fatty liver may occur in individuals of normal weight. Patients often have elevated levels of cholesterol and triglyceride in the blood, but eating fatty foods is not a direct cause of fatty liver. It is more common in women, but affects both sexes. It is also quite common in those who consume excessive amounts of alcohol. There is no evidence that heredity plays a significant role in this disease. It is not passed from parent to child. What causes a fatty liver? As mentioned above, the main cause is deposition of excessive fat within the liver. There are two basic categories of fatty liver – that seen in alcoholics and that which occurs in non-drinkers. Alcoholic fatty liver
