About Weight Loss Surgery

Liver Disease

Liver problems are generally associated with smokers and drinkers. But many people would be surprised to know that liver disease is a common health problem in obese individuals as well—especially those with diabetes.

It is referred to as fatty liver disease because problems develop when fat builds up in the liver cells and causes inflammation of the organ. Obese people may even develop fatty liver disease by taking medication for other obesity-related health conditions.

What is the liver?
The liver is one of the largest organs in the human body. It performs over five hundred functions vital to survival. One of the important functions it performs is breaking down harmful toxins in your body.

The liver is a strong organ—it can regenerate itself, and can even function normally after parts of it have been destroyed. Despite its durability, however, certain diseases and medical conditions (like obesity) can severely affect the liver’s ability to function properly.

What is fatty liver disease?
Fatty liver disease is an inflammation or scarring of the liver due to the organ’s excessive accumulation of fat cells.

Because a large percentage of diabetics are also obese, they are at greater risk of suffering from liver disease. This is because diabetics suffer from insulin resistance (when the body is resistant to the effects of insulin). This resistance causes changes in processing sugar and fat in the liver. The result of these changes is an increased accumulation of fat into the liver cells.

What are the symptoms of liver problems?
Symptoms of liver problems are not well known, and are typically associated with other conditions. Such symptoms include:

Jaundice
Lack of appetite
Vomiting
Dark-colored urine
Light-colored bowel movements
Black or bloody bowel movements
Diarrhea
Anemia
Swelling or pain in the abdomen

How is liver disease treated?
No single effective treatment has been developed for treating liver disease.

There are medications that help alleviate symptoms, but ther is no single medication that has been proven to be the most effective in treating and curing liver disease.

The best remedy for treating liver disease in obese people, however, is obviously through weight loss. Studies have shown that decreasing fat intake and lowering cholesterol decreases the accumulation of fatty liver enzymes.

How can I take care of my liver?
There are many tips to follow that can help maintain the health of your liver:

Follow a balanced diet with low fat, high fibre foods.
Avoid deep fried, fatty foods, rich desserts and foods high in salt.
Get plenty of exercise.
Avoid contaminants that can harm your liver—drugs (both prescription and non-prescription), alcohol, and insecticides.
Get regular check-ups (especially if you are at high-risk for fatty liver disease.)

Click here to learn more about other obesity-related health problems.