Hi, Recently I got diagnosed with fatty liver disease. However I do not drink alcohol, and I am most certainly not over weight.

[Sophie11]

Doctors and specialist have done test and everything yet still can't work out how this has happened.. Can someone advise me with some options.

[Bolly]

Hi Sophie. Sorry to hear your diagnosis. While the medics try to work out why you have fatty liver disease, there are things you can do to help. What you have is what they call NAFLD or Non Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease. As you see it has a special name that has nothing to do with alcohol, not all liver disease is caused by alcohol. Sometimes it isn't caused by diet either, but could be lack of exercising over the years or that you have insulin resistance without knowing it. You might have a cholesterol imbalance, has that been checked. How you improve things depends to an extent on what caused it, but in the Western world we can all improve our diet, lifestyle and exercise regimes. You might not be overweight, but do you have sugar and salt in your diet? Do you eat quite a high % of carbohydrates, etc etc.

[gamesmaker]

Hi. I agree with Bolly. However another posibility is that it is inherited - I have NAFLD which has now progressed to cirrhosis. I do not drink alcohol, and come from a family who never drank alcohol at all. I am a little overweight but by no means obese! I have always been fairly fit - nothing exciting like going to the gym but walking / cycling a little / swimming etc. I have insulin resistant diabetes as part of the problem (as mentioned by Bolly). However my younger sister has also got NAFLD with insulin resistant diabetes - and they are sure the problem must be genetic - my sister only has occasional alcohol, but is more overweight than I am. Our 3rd sister is fine but has been advised to have annual liver function tests. The advice I have been given in the liver unit is to increase my regular exeercise, to lose the surplus weight (not needed in your case) and keep a good watch on my diabetes. It is so frustrating to have this despite a relatively healthy lifestyle! My children are also regularly checked for any signs of thr disease (they are all approaching 40 now so it is up to them to adapt their own lifestyle!!). My son has the insulin resistant diabetes and some borderline abnormal blood test results - he has never drunk alcohol in his life. Good luck and keep in touch via these pages

[Dorset123]

Hi Sophie,

I had NAFLD which progressed to 'mild' cirrhosis. Like most of my peers I have drank socially, but way below the recommended level. I also developed type 2 diabetes, so probably had insulin resistance for years...I was a little overweight, although pretty fit.

Over the last 3 years I have cut out refined sugars & got fitter. I have lost 2 stone &. Apparently am no longer diabetic. Wish I could reverse the cirrhosis!

Might be worth seeing a diabetic dietitian.

Good luck in reversing it.

[Annastasia in reply to Dorset123]

See this is worrying me now. I've been told my liver disease is not fatty liver disease (not sure how they know that). I am overweight - just in the obese category, but that's largely as a result of the medication I've had to take for my joint condition and chronic pain. That's also the reason I can't exercise, by the way. I can relate to Sophie's post, but maybe the problem is we think there is some sort of law by which you 'deserve' your illness and the reality is, stuff happens. Goodness knows how I'm going to be able to lose weight or increase my exercise, especially since my pain relief has now been cut to a minimum

[briccolone in reply to Annastasia]

Annastasia -if have you have no diagnosed liver problems then you might want to try the 5:2 diet which involves intermittent fasting-very fashionable right now. It certainly made a difference for me on all levels. I lost 9kgs in 7 weeks plus a lot of fatty liver symptoms disappeared-also took the opportunity to go on the wagon also for 4 months which probably was the major factor

[Annastasia in reply to briccolone]

I have metabolic problems and an eating disorder, so unfortunately it's not ideal for me. But I am on a program to overcome emotional eating and I'm confident that will help a lot.

[Monkeynuts1988 in reply to briccolone]

Worst diet to go on ever especially if you have other medical issues

[briccolone in reply to Monkeynuts1988]

it was for fatty liver-not other medical issues-its not for everyone for sure...

[Monkeynuts1988 in reply to Annastasia]

I am in the same situation as you I have arthritis and when I exercise I litterly can't so anything for days on end. Even yesterday I went for a long walk got back home my hips and back was so painfull... I'm just waiting for my scan to be done but my blood tests keep increasing on the liver function test! I keep telling the Drs I want support but they don't listen

[angse]

I have cirroshis with portal hypertension, had a severe GI bleed 2013 I do need to lose weight as have fatty liver, does anyone know if it will be OK for to try the 5.2 diet, not seeing my heptologist until june. Thanks for any advice. Angse

[AyrshireK]

Hi angse, from reading the advice my hubby with cirrhosis (albeit not due to fatty liver and not overweight) were provided by liver specialist dietician - a cirrhosis patient needs to eat often to fuel your daily life as your liver can no longer store energy or convert food to energy as a healthy liver would - therefore a fasting type diet might do you some harm. Your body would potentially start to utilize its own muscle for energy rather than burn fat as it is easier for the body to do, hence why some liver patients start to suffer muscle wastage - which my hubby certainly has.

My advice would be to request an appointment with a dietician a.s.a.p. Your heptologist (certainly at a transplant unit) should have one they can refer you to, or your GP should be able to refer you to one especially if loosing the weight will help your liver condition. Fad style diets are not great for anyone really and you really need proper advice before setting out on a weight loss plan.

Just my thoughts, my hubby is trying to keep weight on so he is following a high carb, high protein, little and often style plan.

Hope you get some answers from health professional.

All the best, Katie

[Stationair]

Hey Sophy, my friend just got his lab results and has found himself in the exact same situation. He is 25, He doesn’t drink, he’s in a basketball team and therefore exercise is done four times in a week, is not overweight. BMI is okay too. What happened to you? What did your doctors advise? Treatment?