World Liver Day: Let’s Be Healthier
Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) is on the rise among people under 30, largely due to lifestyle changes. An adoption of an article from The Telegraph on the occasion of World Liver day.
Once upon a time, fatty liver disease was thought to be the sort of thing that only crept up on you after years of boozy weekends and Sunday kosha mangsho with one too roshogollas. But now, it’s knocking on the doors of twenty-somethings who haven’t even touched a drop. Shocking, isn’t it? Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) is on the rise, and it’s no longer just your dad’s problem. It’s a worrying trend, and we thought it was high time we got to the bottom of it.
So, let me share a discussion which I read at The Telegraph and share with you, on the occasion of World Liver Day.
What on earth is fatty liver disease, anyway?
Professor Debarata Banerjee, Head of Medical Gastroenterology at DPU Super Speciality Hospital, Pune, explains it rather cleverly:
“Think of your liver like a sponge. It’s meant to absorb and cleanse. But if you dunk that sponge in oil, it’s not going to do its job properly anymore. That’s fatty liver for you — a liver stuffed with fat and not pulling its weight.”
There are two types: alcoholic (from too much tipple), and non-alcoholic — the latter being the real villain of the moment, linked with poor diet, obesity, and our increasingly sedentary lives.
Why are young people getting it?
Blame it on the burgers and binge-watching. Banerjee says, “It’s all down to lifestyle. Eating junk, sitting about all day, piling on the pounds, stressing out, and sleeping poorly — it’s a recipe for disaster. Even teetotallers aren’t safe anymore.”
Dr Saswata Chatterjee, hepatologist at CMRI, agrees, adding, “Ready-to-eat meals, sugary drinks, and microwave dinners are doing more harm than good. What we’re seeing now in the under-30s used to be the stuff of middle-aged health charts.”
So, how do you know if your liver’s had enough?
Here’s the rub — most people don’t realise anything’s amiss until they get tested for something else. It’s a silent saboteur. Common signs, if they show up at all, include tiredness, discomfort in the upper right abdomen, unexplained weight gain, or in rare cases, a touch of jaundice.
Ipsita Chakravarti, head of dietetics at CMRI, warns, “We’re seeing patients as young as 24 with fibrosis — a more advanced stage of fatty liver. That’s deeply concerning.”
What’s bringing it on?
Let’s spell it out:
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Processed food and drink (those fizzy colas aren’t your friends)
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Lack of physical activity (no, swiping on your phone doesn’t count)
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Obesity (if your BMI’s over 25, it’s time for a rethink)
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High cholesterol, insulin resistance, and stress (yes, stress-eating counts too)
Family history plays its part as well, and once you throw in a penchant for skipping breakfast and wolfing down food in front of the telly, it’s clear we’re digging our own graves with our forks.
Right then, what can we do about it?
1. Start with your plate:
Clinical nutritionist Ananya Bhowmik lays it out: “Go for whole foods — veg, fruit, lean proteins, whole grains. Chuck out the fried rubbish, the white bread, and anything in a shiny packet promising happiness.”
Add good fats like olive oil, avocados, and nuts. And lay off the fizzy drinks and sweetened lattes.
2. Keep your weight in check:
Even a 5-10% drop in body weight can work wonders for the liver. You don’t need to look like a cover model — just aim for balance.
3. Move your body:
Brisk walking, swimming, cycling — anything to get the heart pumping. Chatterjee notes, “Earlier, kids used to run about in fields. Now they just run out of phone battery.”
4. Ditch the drink (yes, even a little):
If you’ve already got fatty liver or are at risk, alcohol’s not helping. Better to steer clear.
5. Monitor blood pressure and cholesterol:
If they’re through the roof, so is your risk. Get tested. Follow your doctor’s advice. And if you’re the type to self-medicate, a word of warning — over-the-counter drugs can also knock your liver for six.
Chakravarti advises incorporating fish rich in healthy fats — sardines, tuna, mackerel — and keeping an eye on your lipid profile. “Visceral fat is the silent troublemaker,” she adds.
Final thoughts: listen to your body, not just your app
There are plenty of apps promising to keep your liver in check, but one size doesn’t fit all. Metabolism varies, and body types are as unique as fingerprints. A real conversation with a healthcare professional trumps an algorithm every time.
In the end, it’s simple really — give your liver a break. Don’t feed it garbage, don’t sit on your backside all day, and don’t ignore the warning signs. After all, it’s the organ quietly working away in the background to keep you ticking. The least we can do is return the favour.
As they say, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure — and your liver will thank you for it.
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