Fatty Liver Disease: What the Science Actually Says
Once considered a benign finding, excess fat in the liver is now recognised as one of the most common chronic liver conditions worldwide — and a major driver of metabolic disease. Here is what current research tells us, without the hype. �� Updated April 2026 �� Based on EASL, AASLD & WHO guidelines ⏱ 8 min read What is fatty liver disease? Fatty liver disease is a condition in which fat accumulates inside liver cells (hepatocytes) beyond normal levels — defined scientifically as fat in more than 5% of hepatocytes. The liver is not a fat-storage organ by design; when fat builds up there, it can interfere with the liver's ability to regulate metabolism, detoxify the blood, and produce essential proteins. In 2023, an international panel of liver specialists agreed on new, more precise terminology. What was called non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is now officially named metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease , or...