The Condition Formerly Known as Fatty Liver Disease: What Is MASLD?

As of 2020, roughly 34% of people in the United States were living with metabolic dysfunction–associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD). And that number is expected to jump to over 40% (2 in 5 Americans) by 2050 due to increasing rates of obesity.Understanding MASLD, including symptoms and possible causes, can help you know if you might be at risk. What is MASLD? Formerly known as nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NASLD), MASLD is actually an umbrella term for a group of diseases that happen when too much fat builds up in your liver when there is little to no alcohol use. Over time, this fatty buildup can cause inflammation (swelling) in your liver, which in turn may trigger more serious problems. If not treated, MASLD can worsen and become MASH, metabolic dysfunction–associated steatohepatitis (formerly called NASH, non-alcoholic steatohepatitis) that also causes fatty buildup and liver swelling. Eventually, MASH may lead to cirrhosis, a type of liver disease that happens when scar tissue caused by long-term inflammation prevents the liver from working like it should. Symptoms of MASLD It can take many years for MASLD to happen, and you may not have symptoms unless you develop MA...