Fatty liver disease affecting around half of Pakistan’s adults, experts warn

PESHAWAR: Senior gastroenterologists have warned that roughly half of Pakistan’s adult population is believed to be living with fatty liver disease, linking the growing burden to obesity, junk food consumption, sedentary routines and lack of physical activity.

The warning was issued at the 8th Annual Conference of the Pakistan GI and Liver Disease Society (PGLDS), held under the theme of ‘Empowering the Future: Advancing GI and Liver Care’. Speakers at the event said the condition had reached epidemic levels in Pakistan and was increasingly being seen not only in adults but also in children and even lean individuals.

Experts said fatty liver disease, now referred to as Metabolic Dysfunction Associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD), can quietly worsen over time if left untreated. They said it may progress to liver fibrosis, cirrhosis, liver failure and liver cancer, while also sharply raising the risk of diabetes, cardiovascular disease and other metabolic disorders.

Experts link rise to obesity and unhealthy lifestyles

Speaking at the conference, PGLDS President Dr Lubna Kamani said fatty liver disease had emerged as one of the main causes of chronic liver disease in Pakistan because of increasing obesity, diabetes and unhealthy living patterns.

She also said cases of colorectal cancer were rising quickly, especially among younger people, and noted that poor awareness, financial difficulties and social barriers were obstructing timely screening and diagnosis.

Dr Kamani said Pakistan still did not have a sufficient number of trained and qualified female gastroenterologists, which was creating problems for women seeking care for gastrointestinal and liver conditions. She added that the PGLDS was working to support women doctors and young professionals in gastroenterology and hepatology through academic opportunities, mentorship and leadership roles.

Disease also affecting lean individuals

Former PGLDS president Prof Sajjad Jamil said fatty liver disease had become a global pandemic and that in Pakistan it was approaching epidemic proportions. He said the disease was increasingly being diagnosed even in lean individuals because of poor eating habits, metabolic abnormalities and insufficient physical activity.

He urged the public to adopt healthier lifestyles, stay away from junk food, exercise regularly and use medicines prescribed by physicians whenever needed to stop liver disease from worsening.

PGLDS patron Prof Shahid Ahmed spoke about inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), outlining its causes, symptoms and growing burden in Pakistan. He said early diagnosis of gastrointestinal illnesses significantly improved treatment outcomes and advised patients not to turn to quacks and instead seek care from qualified gastroenterologists.

Gastroenterologist Prof Nazish Butt discussed genetic factors behind fatty liver disease, saying South Asian populations exposed to prolonged famine conditions over generations had developed genetic mutations that now predisposed them to obesity and fatty liver disease.

Prof Javed Iqbal Farooqi delivered a lecture on Hepatitis B, focusing on treatment advances, newer therapies and the possibility of achieving a functional cure in selected patients.

Prof AH Aamir highlighted the expanding role of modern weight-loss medicines, including semaglutide, in preventing and managing obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, metabolic syndrome and fatty liver disease.