The incidences and deaths due to non-communicable disease, mostly metabolic diseases, is on rise and liver health plays a central role in this, the government said on Friday. during the launch event of revised operational guidelines and training module of Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease.The Union Health Ministry has released the revised operational guidelines and training module of Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease to improve patient care and outcomes related to NAFLD through informed, evidence-based practices, an official statement said.”NAFLD is rapidly emerging as a major public health concern, closely linked with metabolic disorders such as obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. Out of 10, one to three people can have NAFLD which highlights the impact of the disease,” Apurva Chandra, Union Health Secretary said and added that the guidelines emphasized the importance of continuum of care for people who have been diagnosed with NCDs and underlined the need for lifestyle modification for reducing the prevalence of NAFLD.66% of the deaths in the country are due to non-communicable diseases and the major risk factors are tobacco use (smoking & smokeless), alcohol use, poor dietary habits, insufficient physical activity, and air pollution. One of the core causes of metabolic diseases is liver and non alcoholic fatty liver disease is an important cause of liver disease in India with prevalence ranging from 9% to 32%.”India contributes high numbers for NCDs globally and one of the core causes of metabolic diseases is in the liver. Realizing the growing burden and urgent need to address it, India became the first country to integrate the NAFLD in the National Programme for Prevention and Control of NCDs in 2021,” the official statement.Why is it necessary to take measures to control the silent epidemic of fatty liver disease?
Fatty liver disease is becoming increasingly prevalent in India due to lifestyle changes, particularly unhealthy diets and sedentary habits. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), the most common form, is closely linked to obesity, diabetes, and metabolic syndrome, all of which are on the rise in India. With rapid urbanization and growing consumption of high-calorie, processed foods, more people are developing fatty liver, even in the absence of alcohol consumption. The increasing rates of type 2 diabetes and insulin resistance are also contributing to the growing incidence of fatty liver disease.This silent condition can lead to serious complications like liver inflammation, fibrosis, and cirrhosis if left untreated.
