How is fatty liver treated in young people?

Written by Wu Peng
Gastroenterology
Updated on September 15, 2024
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Fatty liver can include alcoholic fatty liver and non-alcoholic fatty liver, with non-alcoholic fatty liver being common among young people. The treatment principles for these patients are: first, remove the cause and inducement, control the primary disease. Second, adjust the dietary plan, correct nutritional imbalances. Third, engage in physical exercise, primarily aerobic exercise, to control weight. Fourth, maintain normal blood lipids and blood sugar levels. Fifth, correct unhealthy behaviors, such as binge eating and lack of physical activity. Sixth, when necessary, take medications for liver protection, lipid reduction, and anti-fibrosis.

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Written by Luo Juan
Endocrinology
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How to deal with fatty liver with elevated transaminases?

First, it is necessary to determine whether the fatty liver is alcoholic or non-alcoholic. If it is non-alcoholic fatty liver with elevated transaminases, lifestyle interventions should be implemented first. Weight loss and exercise can treat fat-associated fatty liver. Generally, it is necessary to control the intake of calories and fats, especially saturated fatty acids, maintain an ideal weight, and exercise sufficiently and consistently. Similarly, if there is a significant increase in blood lipids, lipid-lowering drugs can also be used. Additionally, some liver-protective drugs can be incorporated into treatment. If it is alcoholic fatty liver, abstaining from alcohol is a key treatment, as well as appropriate nutritional support. For long-term alcoholics, since alcohol replaces the calories provided by food, there is generally an insufficient intake of protein and vitamins. Therefore, a diet high in protein and low in fat should be provided, along with appropriate vitamin supplementation, and liver-protective drugs can also be used. (Please use medications under the guidance of a doctor.)

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Written by Ren Zheng Xin
Gastroenterology
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How long does it take to recover from fatty liver with exercise?

Fatty liver is a reversible disease that can gradually improve with proactive treatment, dietary adjustments, and appropriate exercise, although the duration of exercise varies from person to person. For mild fatty liver, the treatment period is short. In cases of severe fatty liver, exercise therapy must be complemented with medications, which extends the time required. Currently, there are no specific drugs that completely cure fatty liver. The main treatments involve protecting liver cells, reducing lipid levels, and using antioxidants. It is important to adjust the diet promptly, reduce the intake of greasy food, especially animal fats, and increase outdoor activities such as jogging and playing badminton. Maintaining a positive mindset also helps in recovery. (The use of medications should be under the guidance of a doctor.)

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Written by Li Xue Qing
Gastroenterology
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Fatty liver is divided into several stages.

Fatty liver is a disease caused by lipid metabolic disorder and lipid accumulation in liver cells. If the fat accounts for more than 5% of the liver's total mass, it is defined as fatty liver, which is divided into three stages: mild fatty liver, moderate fatty liver, and severe fatty liver. Mild fatty liver is when the fat content is more than 5% but less than 10%; moderate fatty liver is when it exceeds 10% but is less than 20%; severe fatty liver is when it exceeds 20%. We must pay sufficient attention to mild, moderate, and severe fatty liver.

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Written by Si Li Li
Gastroenterology
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How to treat severe fatty liver?

The treatment of severe fatty liver is not significantly different from that of mild to moderate fatty liver in terms of medication. The main aspects of treating severe fatty liver include: Firstly, general treatment, which encompasses a healthy diet, appropriate exercise, weight control, and avoiding liver damage. Secondly, medication treatment: Due to large individual differences, there is no absolute, best, quickest, or most effective medication. Apart from using common over-the-counter drugs, it is important to select the appropriate medication based on individual circumstances. Additionally, surgical treatment options are available. For patients with severe obesity and type 2 diabetes, or for those with moderate cases but ineffective control of blood sugar through conservative treatment, weight loss surgery can be considered. Furthermore, combining treatment with traditional Chinese medicine and herbs can also yield excellent results for severe fatty liver.

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Written by Li Jiao Yan
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How should fatty liver be managed in children?

The formation of fatty liver is mainly due to overeating foods that are greasy, overly sweet, or have a high fat content. This leads to a significant increase in fat content in the blood, which accumulates in the liver. Severe fatty liver can progress to cirrhosis, so it is important to intervene promptly. The intervention generally involves dietary management; specifically, children should avoid eating overly greasy foods, as well as high-calorie items like sugars, chocolates, candies, which are better consumed in moderation or not at all. Additionally, increasing physical exercise, which refers to managing and reducing weight, is recommended. Depending on their personal circumstances, children should appropriately increase their amount of physical activity, as more exercise also accelerates the metabolism of fat in the body. It is advised for individuals with fatty liver to undergo a detailed examination at a hospital, and for doctors to determine whether medical intervention is necessary based on the specific conditions of the child. If it is only a mild to moderate case of fatty liver, doctors will likely suggest diet modification or physical exercise to help reduce it.