Obesity A Leading Cause Of Liver Damage


NEW DELHI: Little did 52-year-old Sheila Joshi, suffering from obesity-related uncontrolled diabetes know that her condition was leading to a damaged liver.

Joshi is not the only one, say health experts, adding that Indians largely remain unaware of the condition and wake up to it very late.

"Indians are of the primitive ideology that liver diseases are mainly a problem of the alcoholic population and does not easily affect non-drinkers. But recent studies and awareness of Non Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease clearly state that this disease is not only linked with drinking alcohol," Tarun Mittal, general surgeon, Laproscopic, Robotic and Bariatic surgeon, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, told.

Explaining the causes, Vikas Singhal, executive consultant, minimal access surgery,

Gastroenteritis and Bariatric surgery, Jaypee Hospital, Noida told: "Obesity and diabetes are major risk factors for NAFLD. In fact, NAFLD is so closely associated with obesity and diabetes, it can be used as a marker for patients who are at risk of developing diabetes, heart disease and stroke in the future if they do not start taking preventive measures early."

Agreed Mittal who said the other reasons are malnutrition, pregnancy related acute fatty liver, drugs, toxins and some other inflammatory bowel diseases and even HIV and Hepatitis C.

According to Pradeep Chowbey, vice chairman, Max Healthcare and director, minimal access, metabolic and bariatric surgeon, fatty liver disease are often diagnosed on ultrasound when done for "unrelated symptoms" such as pain in abdomen or pregnancy.

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Source: IANS