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MASLD is a newer name for what used to be called fatty liver disease or NAFLD. It happens when fat builds up in your liver, often due to metabolic health issues like insulin resistance, weight, or inflammation.
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MASLD is a liver condition caused by fat accumulating in your liver when it is not supposed to. It happens in people who have certain metabolic risk factors such as insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol, or being overweight. This buildup is not from drinking alcohol. It comes from underlying metabolic stress in the body.
MASLD is the new name for what used to be called NAFLD (nonalcoholic fatty liver disease). It reflects the fact that this condition is connected to how your body processes food, sugar, and energy.
It is more common than people think, and often has no symptoms in the early stages.
This page is educational. It’s not a substitute for medical care. If you’re worried about your liver or have symptoms, talk to your provider. You deserve real answers and support.
This condition is strongly linked to:
Insulin resistance or type 2 diabetes
High cholesterol or blood fats (triglycerides)
Carrying excess weight, especially around the belly
A history of poor sleep, high stress, or a sedentary lifestyle
Even people who aren’t “obese” can develop MASLD if they have metabolic risk factors. It’s not about how you look, it’s about how your liver is being affected on the inside.
This page is educational. It’s not a substitute for medical care. If you’re worried about your liver or have symptoms, talk to your provider. You deserve real answers and support.
Most people don’t feel symptoms at first. You might only find out during routine bloodwork or an imaging scan (like an ultrasound) that shows fat in your liver.
Sometimes, early warning signs include:
Mild fatigue or low energy
Discomfort on the upper right side of your abdomen
Elevated liver enzymes on bloodwork
If left unchecked, MASLD can cause liver inflammation, scarring, and even lead to cirrhosis over time
In MASLD, fat builds up in liver cells and causes irritation. That irritation can turn into inflammation, which stresses your liver and starts to damage it.
Over time, this can lead to:
Fibrosis (scar tissue forming)
Cirrhosis (extensive scarring and permanent damage)
Higher risk of liver cancer or liver failure
The longer your liver stays inflamed, the harder it is for it to heal.
You can lower your risk of MASLD by:
Managing blood sugar levels, especially if you have insulin resistance or diabetes
Eating a balanced diet that reduces processed sugar and unhealthy fats
Staying physically active! Movement supports liver and metabolic health.
Managing stress, sleep, and getting regular checkups
Even small improvements in weight, diet, or blood sugar can have a major impact on liver health.
Early on, MASLD often causes no clear symptoms. But if it progresses to liver inflammation or fibrosis, you might experience:
Liver function blood tests
Imaging like an ultrasound or FibroScan
Sometimes a liver biopsy if doctors need to confirm scarring
Yes, in early stages, it can be reversed by addressing the root metabolic issues. The liver can heal if the stress is removed early enough.
No. You can have MASLD even if you’re not visibly overweight. It’s about what’s happening internally with your metabolism.
Yes. But MASLD is the more accurate medical term now. It recognizes that this is a metabolic liver condition, not just “fatty liver.”
There’s no one-size-fits-all diet, but reducing added sugars, refined carbs, and saturated fats can really help. A doctor or dietitian can guide you based on your body’s needs.
American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD)
2023 Guidance on MASLD Terminology and Diagnosis
https://www.aasld.org
Eslam M, Newsome PN, et al.
“A new definition for metabolic dysfunction–associated fatty liver disease: An international expert consensus statement”
Journal of Hepatology, 2020
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhep.2020.03.039
Eslam M, Sanyal AJ, George J on behalf of the International Consensus Panel
“MAFLD: A consensus-driven proposed nomenclature for metabolic associated fatty liver disease”
The Lancet Gastroenterology & Hepatology, 2020
https://doi.org/10.1016/S2468-1253(19)30366-3
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