If you are here because you or someone you know has been diagnosed with Fatty Liver Disease there are a couple of terms you need to know. In 2023 Non-Alcohol Fatty-Liver Disease or NAFLD was changed to Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease or MASLD. MASH is the more advanced stage of MASLD and NASH represents the more advanced stage of NAFLD. This diagram shows the progression of the disease. The percentages between the images show the number of people affected. Note at the top right, the adverse effects in years on lifespan if the disease isn't slowed or reversed. Stages: MASLD or NAFLD: Fat builds up in the liver, but little to no inflammation or liver damage occurs. At this stage the disease is reversable with diet and exercise. MASH or NASH: The liver has fat buildup plus inflammation and damage, which can lead to scarring (fibrosis). Cirrhosis: Severe scarring from long-term inflammation, leading to liver failure. ...
I want to be real about how I felt with my Fatty Liver or MASLD diagnoses . After researching on Google Scholar, it appeared my best option was to lose 7-10% of my body weight. I love to eat ! I mourned the loss of foods that might not make the cut . In the past I've tried to lose weight, and regardless of what I tried, I struggled to even lose one pound! This diagnosis and realization were discouraging. A ll I could think about was what I would miss . That was misplaced. I realize now that I can eat better, lose weight and still enjoy the foods I love. At first, m y stomach was stretched and so eating less didn’t fill me up. Because I didn’t have all my eating substitutions and strategies in place, I was hungry and frustrated. I was used to eating until I was stuffed and uncomfortable. I didn’t realize how bad e...