Fatty liver disease screening

Newly analyzed Medicare data on 10 million people shines a bright light on just how widespread the most life-threatening form of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease is in this country.

There are two forms of NAFLD: simple fatty liver and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, or NASH. Simple NAFLD affects more than 35% of U.S. adults. NASH does often lead to cirrhosis, liver scarring and sometimes the need for a liver transplant.

About 20% of folks with NAFLD have NASH — that adds up to about 17.4 million people, and the number is projected to hit 27 million by 2030. Fortunately, if you lose about 5% of your body weight you can reduce the fat content of your liver by 30%!

Step No. 1: Prevention or control starts with a diet that eliminates most saturated fats, especially from red and processed meats. You want to consume healthier fats, like extra-virgin olive oil and foods rich in omega-3, -6 and -9, like salmon, ocean trout, walnuts and almonds.

We suggest you limit your fat intake to less than 30% (10% to 20% is even better) of your daily calories — assuming you are not overeating! To figure out how many calories a day you need in order to maintain your weight, or lose weight if needed, check out www.calculator.net/caloriecalculator.html.

Step No. 2: You can also counter fatty liver disease with regular physical activity.

We suggest an activity routine that combines aerobic and resistance training: 30 to 60 minutes of aerobic activity at least five days a week and two to three 30-minute sessions of strength building/resistance training weekly. Check out strength building routines at www.sharecare.com/health/ strength-training; follow the links on the slides for in-depth advice.

So, should you be screened for NAFLD? Researchers suggest anyone with visceral abdominal fat — that’s fat around your middle — insulin resistance or Type 2 diabetes get screened.