Lean fatty liver disease (LFLD) is a condition in which the fat content of the liver exceeds 5% but is not high enough to be classified as nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). It is also known as hepatic steatosis or fatty infiltration of the liver. LFLD is a common condition, affecting up to 30% of adults in the United States. The cause of LFLD is not completely understood, but it may be associated with genetic factors and lifestyle factors such as obesity, poor diet, and alcohol consumption. It can also occur in people with normal body weight who have eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa or bulimia nervosa. Although LFLD can lead to complications such as cirrhosis and even death if left untreated, most people who have it experience no symptoms at all. However, some people may experience fatigue, abdominal pain, nausea/vomiting, or loss of appetite. In cases where there are symptoms present they may include jaundice (yellowing of the skin) or swelling around the abdomen due to fluid build-up from cirrhosis or portal hypertension (high blood pressure within a portal vein). For those with LFLD that do not progress into NASH there are several lifestyle changes that may help reverse the damage done by fatty infiltration including maintaining healthy body weight through proper nutrition and physical activity; avoiding excessive alcohol consumption; quitting smoking; following a balanced diet with low in processed foods; getting regular exercise; managing stress levels; reducing sugar intake, and avoiding certain medications that may make inflammation worse like steroids and tamoxifen. On the other hand, lean NASH occurs when a person has milder degrees of fat accumulation in their livers yet still shows signs of active inflammation. While this condition does not always produce visible symptoms it can worsen over time if left untreated eventually resulting in cirrhosis scarring fibrosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (liver cancer). Treatment for lean NASH includes lifestyle changes such as diet modification exercise regular monitoring by healthcare professionals medications statins vitamin E supplements beta blockers etc., depending on severity level individual risk factors age comorbidities, etc.
