Fatty liver due to obesity

Fatty liver is a condition in which fat accumulates from 5% of liver weight (normal people only 2-4%), including non-alcoholic fatty liver and alcoholic fatty liver. On November 6, Dr. Lam Van Hoang, Director of the Center for Weight Control and Obesity Treatment, Tam Anh General Hospital system, said that fatty liver can be caused by alcohol abuse and eating too much. fat, diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia. Among them, overweight and obesity are the main causes of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

Obese people often like sweet, fatty foods, snacks and late-night eating, which increases the risk of fatty liver. “Eating too many foods rich in calories and carbohydrates, the body can develop insulin resistance,” Dr. Hoang explained, adding that more than 70% of obese people have insulin resistance, affecting the ability to regulate sugar levels in the body. blood leads to the liver overproducing glucose (sugar). As a result, the liver has to convert excess glucose into fat and store it in liver cells, causing fatty liver. Conversely, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease also causes and worsens insulin resistance, leading to a “vicious cycle”. Insulin resistance also promotes the release of pro-inflammatory adipokines such as interleukin, gradually forming fatty liver.

Obesity is often accompanied by increased levels of free fatty acids in the blood. These fatty acids are transferred from adipose tissue to the liver, causing fat accumulation there. When the amount of fat exceeds the liver’s metabolic capacity, fat accumulates in liver cells, leading to fatty liver. In addition, obese people also have lipid metabolism disorders, making it difficult for the body to use and metabolize fat. When the liver cannot metabolize fat effectively, fat is stored in liver cells, increasing the risk of fatty liver.

In addition, chronic inflammation related to obesity can increase levels of oxidative stress (imbalance between free radicals and antioxidants in the body), damage liver cells, and increase the risk of obesity. Fat accumulates in the liver, progressing to fatty liver. Obesity not only causes fat accumulation in the liver but also in other fatty tissues in the body.

The risk of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease increases as body mass index (BMI) increases. Research on the American Library of Medicine in 2019 showed that 65% of people were obese at level 1-2 (BMI between 30-39.9kg/m²) and 85% of people were obese at level 3 (BMI=40-59kg/m²). have fatty liver. “At the Tam Anh General Hospital system alone, every day there are about 150 cases of overweight, obesity and fatty liver disease,” said Dr. Hoang.

For example, Mr. Hau, 35 years old, Hau Giang, gained 42 kg in less than a year, now weighs 102 kg, his knees, shoulders and neck often hurt, and he has difficulty breathing when climbing stairs. He followed a strict diet and used functional foods to lose weight but it was ineffective. Measuring Inbody body index at Tam Anh General Clinic, District 7, the result was BMI 41.8 (third degree obesity), third degree fatty liver test, dyslipidemia, prediabetes.

After 10 months of treatment, Mr. Hau lost 22 kg, fatty liver was controlled, obesity from level three to level one, joint pain was reduced as well as cardiovascular risk, diabetes… The patient continued treatment to Reach your goal of losing 70 kg.

As for Ms. Chuyen, 42 years old, after giving birth, her weight increased from 45 kg to 86 kg, her waist circumference was more than 120 cm, she had second-degree fatty liver, and dyslipidemia. Trying every way to lose weight for two years without success, she went to Tam Anh General Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City for a check-up. The doctor instructed her to take medicine as prescribed and combine 5 exercises, 15-30 minutes a day. As a result, fatty liver was reduced to grade one, she no longer had blood sugar disorders, and slept better.

Dr. Hoang said that fatty liver in the early stages often has no obvious symptoms, so it is difficult to diagnose. Overweight and obese people should undergo tests and imaging techniques at hospitals or specialized units to detect complications early.

Weight loss helps control, treat and prevent non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Losing about 5-10% of body weight helps reduce liver fat, improve insulin resistance, reduce inflammation, better lipid metabolism and improve liver function. Overweight and obese people need health care, psychological counseling, nutrition, exercise, medical and surgical treatment and high-tech weight loss to reduce cravings.