Fatty liver is a condition in which excess fat builds up inside the liver cells. The liver plays a vital role in processing nutrients from food, filtering toxins, and managing waste products in the body.
Normally, a healthy liver contains little to no fat. However, when a person consumes excessive alcohol or regularly eats more calories than the body needs, the extra calories are converted into fat. Over time, some of this fat gets stored in the liver.
A diagnosis of fatty liver is usually made when fat accounts for more than 5% of the liver’s total weight. If left unaddressed for a long period, this fat accumulation can cause inflammation and damage, which may eventually lead to cirrhosis—permanent scarring of the liver.