What is fatty liver?

 Fatty liver is not a single disease rather it is group of diseases that present as fatty liver.  Multiple insults can lead to fatty changes in the liver.  

 Alcohol is the most widely known cause of fatty liver but the incidence of fatty liver in absence of alcohol misuse is increasing 

Risk factors include: insulin resistance/type II diabetes, hyperlipidemia, metabolic syndrome, obesity, protein calorie malnutrition

Genetic diseases including hereditary hemochromatosis and Wilson's disease in which the body becomes overloaded in iron or copper, respectively, which can cause multiple problems, including liver tissue damage. 

Hepatotoxins/drug-induced liver injury, , Hepatitis C, Genetic predisposition

 Fatty liver disease is a treatable condition and treatment may result in a healing of liver tissue with appropriately structured care.  If untreated, fatty liver may progress to an end-stage process such as cirrhosis and subsequent complication of liver failure, liver cancer and finally death.