In brief
Too much fat stored in the liver. It affects about 1 in every 3 Australian adults, and in most people the liver damage can be reversed.
- There are no medicines to treat fatty liver disease, according to healthdirect.
- Yellow eyes and skin (jaundice), bruising or vomiting blood can be signs of more serious liver disease.
- Complications can include heart problems, stroke, kidney disease and liver cancer.
How it works
The main type, metabolic associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD), used to be called non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), and the other main type is alcohol-related. Common causes are being overweight, especially around the abdomen, type 2 diabetes or insulin resistance, high cholesterol or triglycerides, and drinking too much alcohol. Less common causes include an underactive thyroid, some medicines and PCOS.
Fatty liver usually causes no symptoms and is often found with blood tests, including liver function tests, or an ultrasound. The extra fat causes liver inflammation, which leads to scarring (fibrosis) and may lead to cirrhosis. Lifestyle changes can improve fatty liver and even reverse it, including losing weight if needed, exercising regularly and drinking little or no alcohol.
Connections
5 connections on the map. Select a topic to read its page.
Fatty liver disease (MAFLD) affects
Extra fat in the liver causes inflammation, which leads to scarring (fibrosis) of the liver.
Fatty liver disease (MAFLD) can result from
Type 2 diabetes or insulin resistance is one of the causes of fatty liver disease.
Sources: healthdirect Australia, Fatty liver disease; National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIH), Insulin resistance and prediabetes
Fatty liver disease (MAFLD) can be caused by
Drinking too much alcohol is a common cause of fatty liver.
Fatty liver disease (MAFLD) is linked with
- Hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid) Supported
An underactive thyroid is a less common cause of fatty liver, according to healthdirect.
Fatty liver disease (MAFLD) is measured by
- Liver function tests (LFTs) Supported
Fatty liver is often found with blood tests, including liver function tests.
Sources: healthdirect Australia, Fatty liver disease; Pathology Tests Explained, Liver function tests
Lab tests
Sources
Each connection above names its own source. See every source AskBioMap uses.
Summarised from healthdirect, Pathology Tests Explained and the Better Health Channel. Sources read on 13, 16 and 19 October 2026. General education only, not medical advice. Spotted a mistake? Please tell us through the HuBu-Intel contact page.