Also described as: “Liver mein charbi, grade 1/2/3 fatty liver”
Common symptoms
- Usually no symptoms — found on ultrasound or blood tests
- Tiredness
- Heaviness or discomfort on the right side of the abdomen
- Raised SGPT / SGOT on blood tests
See a doctor promptly if
- Yellow eyes or urine (jaundice)
- Swelling of the abdomen or legs
- Vomiting blood or black stools
- Confusion or excessive sleepiness
What fatty liver means
Fatty liver — now often called MASLD (metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease) — means extra fat has built up in liver cells. It is closely linked to weight gain around the waist, diabetes, high cholesterol and high blood pressure, and is very common in urban India. Alcohol can cause a similar picture.
Grades on ultrasound are not the whole story
Ultrasound grades (1, 2 or 3) describe how much fat is seen, but not how much scarring (fibrosis) is present — and fibrosis is what determines long-term risk. A FibroScan and simple blood scores measure this.
Treatment
- Gradual weight loss of 7–10% through diet and activity
- Control of diabetes, cholesterol and blood pressure
- Avoiding alcohol
- Medicines in selected patients, as evidence evolves
- Regular monitoring if fibrosis is present
See also our diet and lifestyle counselling.
How we can help
Frequently asked questions
Medically reviewed by Dr. Shivam Kalia MBBS, MD (Medicine), DM (Gastroenterology) · Consultant Gastroenterologist & Hepatologist