Shahin Bepari Lambe
Panaji: Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) affects 34.8 per cent of Goa’s population, according to a study conducted by Goa Medical College, with the condition increasingly being seen among younger adults and people with sedentary lifestyles. Globally, around 30 per cent of people are affected, while the prevalence in India is about 33 per cent.
The study was conducted by Dr P A Vagurmekar (Department of Community Medicine, GMC) and others.
According to Dr Akshay Jain, Associate Consultant – Medical Gastroenterology, Manipal Hospital, Goa is witnessing a gradual increase in cases of fatty liver disease, driven by sedentary lifestyles, unhealthy eating habits, obesity and diabetes.
“The disease is increasingly being seen among people in their 30s and 40s,” said Dr R G Wiseman Pinto, former professor of Pathology, Goa Medical College, adding that it was particularly affecting IT professionals, due to unhealthy lifestyles and long hours of desk work.
He said studies showed that 84 per cent of IT professionals were affected by NAFLD, while an estimated 71 per cent were overweight or obese. He said the condition was more common among urban populations with fast-paced lifestyles.
“Viral hepatitis also remains a significant public health concern and when the two conditions occur together, they can accelerate liver damage and increase the risk of cirrhosis and liver failure,” said Jain.
Dr Jose Filipe Alvares, Senior Consultant, Gastroenterology, Liver Disease and Endoscopy, Victor Hospital, Margao, said fatty liver is known as a silent disease because clinical features generally appear only in the later stages.
Stating that its incidence was rising in Goa due to unhealthy lifestyles and lack of exercise, Dr Alvares said, “Lifestyle modifications like regular exercise, losing weight if the body mass index (BMI) is high, reducing calorie intake, avoiding a high-fructose diet and getting at least seven to eight hours of sleep daily are recommended.”
Dr Pinto said NAFLD develops when excess fat, amounting to five to 10 per cent of the liver’s weight, accumulates in liver cells.
He said major causes of NAFLD included a sedentary lifestyle, lack of exercise, long hours of desk work, unhealthy diets, lack of sleep, stress, smoking and alcohol consumption.
Dr Alvares also said coffee consumption was beneficial for the liver and could be encouraged.
“Medical treatment is available if the condition persists despite these measures,” said Dr Ashmitha Padma, Consultant – Internal Medicine, Manipal Hospital.
