What Causes Fatty Liver Disease?
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease can be mild to very serious (for example NASH). A person with a buildup of simple fat in their liver is more at risk of liver injury than someone with no fat. The most common cause of fatty liver disease in Canada is obesity. About 75% of obese people are at risk of developing a simple fatty liver, and up to 23% are at risk of developing fatty liver with inflammation. Other causes of fatty liver disease can be: • starvation • protein malnutrition • intestinal bypass surgery for obesity, and • fast weight loss Certain conditions predispose a person to fatty liver disease, including diabetes, hyperlipidemia (high cholesterol or triglycerides in the blood), and high blood pressure. Other causes of fatty liver disease include genetic factors, medications, drugs, and chemicals. These causes are much less common.
