Fears over diet timebomb that is ruining more livers than drink
Warning illness could become an epidemic
Cases of obesity-related liver disease in young women have more than doubled in three years, figures have revealed.
Women under the age of 30 have been warned they could be eating themselves into an early grave with deadly non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).
The condition is now the main cause of liver transplants in Scotland and experts warn the “silent killer” could reach epidemic levels unless drastic action is taken.
Dr Ewan Forrest, consultant hepatologist and honorary clinical associate professor with NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde said: “I’ m aware of seeing more patients over the last few years with NAFLD, including women in their 20s and 30s.”
Figures show that between 2015 and 2017, the number of women under 30 being treated for NAFLD rose from 41 to 94. Cases in women over 30 also jumped from 1053 to 1666.
It comes as the Scottish Government battle to reverse the worrying obesity trend, with more than two thirds of Scots now either overweight or obese.
Dr For rest said: “There’s an overall increase in NAFLD numbers by just over 60 per cent in three years.
“This reflects the BMI in the genera l population, including younger women.” He also warned of a number of other potential complications linked with NAFLD, including cancer and heart disease.
Dr Forrest added: “Patients with NAFLD are at increased risk of heart disease.
“Although not likely to over take heart disease imminently as the primary cause of premature death, the impact of NAFLD is increasing.”
He added some of the increase maybe linked to better awareness by GPs and improved reporting.
But the British Liver Trust are calling for better awarenessreness amid growing fears the number of cases is underestimated.
Vanessa Hebditch said :“General Practitioners need to be aware of the risk factors but also have appropriate systems in place for testing and follow up.
“NAFLD is often seen in people who have Type 2 diabetes, so if someone is overweight and has Type 2 diabetes, GPs should be thinking about checking for liver disease.”
Without treatment, NAFLD progresses to a more serious form known as NASH ( nona l c oh o l related steatohepatitis). This is where the liver has become inflamed. Patients are often unaware they have the condition until it becomes cirrhosis – the most severe stage. The British Liver Trust estimate that up to one in three people in Scotland has the early stages of NAFLD, where there are small amounts of fat in their liver.
The easiest way to address this is through weight loss as there is no licenced medicine to treat the condition.
Dr Forrest said: “Weight reduction has a significant effect upon NAFLD. Not only does wei ght reduct ion l imi t progression of liver damage, there’s evidence it can reduce the degree of liver scarring. ”
A Scott ish Government spokesman said: “Maintaining a healthy weight and eating a balanced diet are some of the most important ways people can reduce their risk of many obesityrelated illnesses. That is why our new Diet and Healthy Weight Delivery Plan sets out a range of steps for how we will support people with their weight , including helping to prevent illhealth in the first place.
“This includes restricting the promotion and marketing of junk food, and enabling better access to weight management services.”