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“Why am I so thin yet still have fatty liver?” Recently, 46-year-old Ms. Li was puzzled after seeing her physical examination report. The doctor pointed out that an unhealthy lifestyle can lead to metabolic disorders and trigger fatty liver. The doctor reminded that on the surface, fatty liver is a disease that overweight individuals are more likely to get, but in reality, anyone regardless of gender, age, height, or weight can be affected by fatty liver. According to relevant data from the Chinese Medical Association, the prevalence rate of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease among adults in China is 29.6%, which has replaced viral hepatitis as the country’s most prevalent chronic liver disease.
There are many significant factors that can trigger fatty liver
Ms. Li is 1.68 meters tall and weighs under 60 kilograms. To maintain her figure, her daily diet is very light, primarily consisting of fruits and vegetables, avoiding meat and dairy products as much as possible. However, during her latest medical check-up, she was diagnosed with fatty liver, leaving her confused since she believed that thin people could not get fatty liver. Dr. Song Yong, a hepatobiliary surgeon at Shaanxi Provincial People’s Hospital, explained that Ms. Li’s dietary structure is quite unreasonable, with excessive fruit intake and sugar content surpassing recommended levels; she consumes very little high-quality protein from meat and dairy products. Additionally, she often stays up late, lacks sleep, and has late-night snacks, exercising less than once a month. The doctor informed Ms. Li that her fatty liver falls under the category of “thin person fatty liver,” which occurs in individuals with a body mass index (BMI) within the normal or lower range experiencing liver fat degeneration. “In general, thin person fatty liver is closely related to metabolic disorders,” Dr. Song said, noting that if one only consumes fruits and vegetables without adequate protein intake, triglycerides in the liver cannot be effectively transported out, ultimately leading to fatty liver.
“Fatty liver is characterized by an excessive accumulation of fat in the liver. If we consume too many high-calorie, high-fat foods and do not exercise much, fat will accumulate in various parts of the body, including the liver,” Dr. Song explained. Obesity is an important factor for inducing fatty liver, but it is not the only reason; there are other significant factors to consider.
According to Dr. Song, a long-term intake of high-calorie, high-fat, and high-sugar foods, especially fast food, fried foods, and sweets, increases the burden on the liver and promotes fat accumulation in the liver. Lack of exercise can slow down the body’s metabolism, making it ineffective in burning fat, which then accumulates in the liver. Long-term excessive alcohol consumption can directly harm liver cells, leading to metabolic disorders of fat and potentially causing fatty liver as well. Some medications, such as hormonal drugs and antibiotics, when used excessively over time, may also trigger fatty liver. Additionally, some people naturally have a poor ability to metabolize fat in the liver, making them more susceptible to fatty liver.
The symptoms of fatty liver vary from person to person; some may show no symptoms at all and only discover it during health checks; others may experience noticeable fatigue and weakness; some may lose interest in food, or feel full after eating just a little; sometimes they may feel slight bloating or pressure in the upper right abdomen. “These symptoms are not specific to fatty liver and may also be related to other diseases,” Dr. Song added. Because fatty liver may show no symptoms at all, it is often easily overlooked. If fatty liver is not intervened or treated for a long time, it can lead to cirrhosis or progress into other liver diseases, making timely detection and treatment very important.
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undergo a comprehensive medical examination
Dr. Song recommends adjusting dietary structures by reducing the intake of high-calorie, high-fat, and high-sugar foods, while increasing the consumption of fiber-rich foods such as vegetables, fruits, and whole grains, and at the same time maintaining
