In short
Mostly insulin resistance: the body struggles to handle sugar and fat, so the liver stores the extra as fat.
Your doctor will also check for other causes, such as alcohol, some medicines, or viral hepatitis, because they need different care.
- Extra weight, especially around the waist
- Type 2 diabetes or prediabetes
- High blood pressure
- High triglycerides or low HDL (good) cholesterol
- Too many sugary drinks and processed foods
- Little physical activity
- Genes: fatty liver can run in families
Related questions
Sources
- EASL–EASD–EASO Clinical Practice Guidelines on the management of MASLD. J Hepatol 2024;81:492–542. Link
- Rinella ME, et al. A multisociety Delphi consensus statement on new fatty liver disease nomenclature. J Hepatol 2023;79:1542–56. Link
Last updated 2026-10-03. Based on international and Saudi guidelines. Education only: it does not replace your doctor. Read the disclaimer.