1 day ago
Why Fatty Liver Can Hide Even In Young Adults
Fatty liver happens when too much fat builds up inside the liver.
Many people do not feel sick when this happens.
Their regular blood tests can also look normal.
Aman, a man from Noida, found out he had fatty liver after his symptoms returned and more tests were done.
An ultrasound can look for fat, while a FibroScan checks whether the liver has become stiff or scarred.
Fat can sometimes be reduced through healthier eating, exercise and weight management.
Scarring is more serious because it can get worse and lead to cirrhosis.
Doctors recommend extra screening for people with risks such as diabetes, obesity, high blood pressure or abnormal cholesterol.
A 27-year-old Noida man was diagnosed with Grade 2-3 fatty liver and a fibrosis score of 6 after recurring symptoms and elevated liver enzymes.
Doctors say fatty liver is often silent, and normal liver enzymes do not necessarily rule it out.
An ultrasound can detect fat in the liver, while a FibroScan can assess liver stiffness and fibrosis, or scarring.
Fat accumulation may be reversible through lifestyle changes, but fibrosis can progress to cirrhosis and may cause permanent damage.
Apollo Hospitals’ report found that 74% of 49,032 people with ultrasound-confirmed fatty liver had normal liver enzymes.
- Who
- Aman, a Noida resident, and doctors including Dr M Irtaza of Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals, Delhi.
- What
- Aman was diagnosed with Grade 2-3 fatty liver and a fibrosis score of 6, highlighting that fatty liver can remain hidden despite normal or initially inconclusive blood tests.
- Where
- Noida and Delhi, India.
- When
- Aman was diagnosed at age 27 and, now 32, has undergone treatment for five years; Apollo’s health assessments cited in the report were conducted in 2025.
- Why
- Fatty liver often causes no obvious symptoms, and liver enzymes may remain normal even when fat or fibrosis is present.
Key facts
- Initial symptoms
- Bloating and mushy stools, followed by recurring symptoms and elevated liver enzymes.
- Diagnosis
- Grade 2-3 fatty liver with a liver fibrosis score of 6.
- Detection
- Ultrasound can detect fat accumulation; FibroScan measures liver stiffness and helps assess fibrosis.
- Normal enzymes
- 74% of 49,032 people with ultrasound-confirmed fatty liver in Apollo Hospitals’ report had normal liver enzymes.
- Silent disease
- Dr M Irtaza said more than 80% of fatty-liver patients have no symptoms.
- Higher-risk groups
- People with diabetes, obesity, hypertension or abnormal cholesterol may need screening beyond routine blood tests.
- Treatment approach
- Aman reports following a controlled diet, exercising, walking regularly and taking prescribed supplements and medication.
Quotes
Dr M Irtaza
Senior Consultant in Gastroenterology at Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals, Delhi
“fatty liver is largely a silent disease. In simple terms, it means excess fat has accumulated in the liver, just like fat can accumulate in other parts of the body”
indianexpress.com
“An ultrasound can detect fatty liver accumulation, while a FibroScan tells us about the stiffness of the liver and helps assess fibrosis.”
indianexpress.com
Sources
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