Fatty Liver: Causes, Risk Factors, and Prevention

Fatty liver is a medical condition that causes the cells of the liver to become infused with large amounts of fats such as triglycerides. People can develop fatty liver from several different causes.

Alcohol

• The leading cause of fatty liver is alcohol abuse, according to the Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center. People who limit their alcohol consumption have a greater chance of preventing fatty liver.

Improper Food Consumption

• Individuals who suffer from malnutrition and obese people may develop fatty liver.

Diseases

• Patients with diabetes mellitus and children with Reye's syndrome have an increased risk of getting fatty liver.

Pregnancy

• Pregnant women have developed a serious form of fatty liver late in pregnancy in rare cases. This type of fatty liver may cause liver failure and jaundice.

Other Causes

• Fatty liver can occur in people who ingest toxic chemicals such as carbon tetrachloride and patients who experience a drug overdose.

Treatment

• Early cases of fatty liver may be reversed if the underlying cause is treated. Severe cases of the condition may require a liver transplant.