Dr Michael Mosley has warned about a condition potentially impacting a number of Brits that he even dealt with himself previously. The TV doctor, famous for popularising the 5:2 diet, spoke about the disease which has been dubbed a 'silent killer' as it is becoming one of the biggest health concerns and can go undiagnosed for years.
Dr Mosley explained fatty liver disease is a major issue worrying health professionals, he said at the launch of his Fast 800 plan, as reported by The Mirror. Not only did he warn the 'silent' disease has few or no symptoms, but also that there is currently no routine test available on the NHS.
One key indicator of fatty liver disease is being overweight however. Known as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), the disease is caused by excessive fat.
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In its early stages, the disease may not pose any harm, but can lead to liver damage, such as cirrhosis, if not caught and treated early. NHS Inform states a healthy liver should contain little or no fat.
However, it is estimated that up to one in every three Brits has early stages of NAFLD, where there are small amounts of fat in their liver. Dr Mosley experienced early signs of the disease, once weighing 85kg, however he managed to reverse the condition, along with his type 2 diabetes.
He said: “I expect he probably did [have it] because he was significantly overweight. Eleven years ago, when I discovered that I had type 2 diabetes, I also had a scan that revealed I had early signs of fatty liver disease. Both the diabetes and the fatty liver went away once I went on the 5:2 diet and lost 9kg.”
Dr Mosley met with Mark Mattson, professor of neurosciences at Johns Hopkins University, who wrote over 300 papers on intermittent fasting. The TV doctor learned about the positive impacts of what was then coined as the 5:2 diet – where you eat normally for five days a week and cut your calories to around 800 for the other two days.
Dr Mosley was told he needed to lose 10 per cent of his body weight, which he achieved, reversing the condition. He explained Professor Mattson said we all have a “personal fat threshold” which can overflow and get into place it shouldn’t.
The TV doctor explained the worst place to have fat is around your tummy. This is because abdominal fat infiltrates your internal organs, like your liver and your pancreas, which in turn control your blood sugar levels.
You could be at risk of NAFLD if you’re obese or overweight, have type 2 diabetes, a condition affecting how your body uses insulin, have polycystic ovary syndrome, have underactive thyroid, have high blood pressure, have high cholesterol, have a metabolic syndrome, are over the age of 50, and smoke.
The NHS listed the four main stages of NAFLD, explaining most people will only ever develop the first stage without even realising it. A small number of cases can progress and eventually lead to liver damage if not detected and managed.
NAFLD main stages:
- simple fatty liver (steatosis) – a largely harmless build-up of fat in the liver cells that may only be diagnosed during tests carried out for another reason
- non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) – a more serious form of NAFLD, where the liver has become inflamed
- fibrosis – where persistent inflammation causes scar tissue around the liver and nearby blood vessels, but the liver is still able to function normally
- cirrhosis – the most severe stage, occurring after years of inflammation, where the liver shrinks and becomes scarred and lumpy; this damage is permanent and can lead to liver failure (where your liver stops working properly) and liver cancer
It can take a number of years for fibrosis or cirrhosis to develop, so it’s important to make lifestyle changes to prevent the condition from worsening.
Early stages of NAFLD may not present any symptoms, however those with NASH or fibrosis may experience a dull or aching pain in the top right of the tummy (over the lower right side of the ribs), extreme tiredness, unexplained weight loss and/or weakness. If cirrhosis develops, severe symptoms such jaundice, itchy skin, as well as swellings in the legs, ankles, feet and tummy may occur.
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