Drop pounds to regain liver health
By Graciela Gutierrez
Losing weight may help regain health for those suffering from cirrhosis of the liver resulting from nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, said experts at Baylor College of Medicine.
"Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is now being seen increasingly in the United States as the obesity epidemic continues," said John Vierling, M.D., professor of medicine and surgery at BCM and director of Baylor Liver Health.
Cirrhosis and obesity linked
Cirrhosis is a condition associated with dense scarring and regenerating nodules on the liver. It can result from a number of illnesses, including alcoholic and viral hepatitis and autoimmune and metabolic liver diseases. Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease causes cirrhosis when a large amount of fat accumulates in the liver in the presence of damaging inflammation.
"It's important for people to understand that cirrhosis can be caused by obesity in adults and children," said Vierling. "Very often people think it is only associated with overconsumption of alcohol or viral hepatitis."
Reaching a healthy weight is one way to reverse damage to the liver. For many people the thought of having to lose 100 to 200 pounds is daunting, but Vierling said even losing 10 percent of your body weight can help the liver begin to heal.
Jumpstarting healing
"Losing a little weight won't cure the problem, but it starts the process of healing," he said. "It's easy for people to get discouraged when it comes to weight loss, but understanding that every pound lost is helping the liver helps make the process more fulfilling."
Vierling adds that other health issues are associated with obesity such as diabetes and high lipids. So it's important to consult a doctor for evaluation and advice.
"The liver is one of the five major organs of the body you can't live without," Vierling said. "So doing everything you can, one step or pound at a time, is important to stay healthy."
