How lifestyle changes can reverse fatty liver disease, says Dr Philippa Kaye

Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is the most common liver condition in the UK, affecting roughly one in four adults and rising alongside obesity and diabetes. Dr Philippa Kaye emphasizes that the disease is usually silent but can progress to cirrhosis if left untreated. She advises that modest weight loss—5 to 10 percent of body weight—significantly reduces liver fat, and greater loss can reverse scarring.

Regular physical activity of about 150 minutes per one outlet further cuts liver fat independent of weight change. Dietary guidance includes eliminating sugary beverages, refined white staples, and saturated-fat-rich foods, while adopting coffee, whole grains, legumes, nuts, oily fish, and a variety of fruits and vegetables, essentially following a Mediterranean pattern. Alcohol should be kept below 14 units weekly, and smoking cessation also benefits liver health.