World Liver Day: Weight loss key to reversing fatty liver, say experts

Lucknow: If an obese or overweight person loses just 5% of their body weight, it can help reverse fatty liver, while a 10% reduction may aid recovery from liver injury and fibrosis. This is significant, given that there is no definitive treatment to repair the liver—unlike the heart or kidneys, where procedures like angioplasty or dialysis can help restore function. A transplant is often the only option left when the condition becomes critical.
These insights were highlighted during an official programme organised by the department of hepatology at SGPGI, held on Saturday to mark World Liver Day. "We are currently in the era of fatty liver disease, which can progress to cirrhosis and even liver cancer if not addressed early," said SGPGI director Prof RK Dhiman, who stressed the importance of early detection to help India benefit from its demographic dividend.
Meanwhilie, prof Amit Goel said that liver damage, when combined with conditions like obesity or diabetes, progresses more rapidly. "Simply keeping one's weight under control can prevent fatty liver," he said, adding that avoiding sedentary lifestyles and junk food, and adopting regular exercise and sports, are simple yet effective ways to protect liver health.