World Liver Day is observed on April 19 every year globally to acknowledge liver health and its related diseases. The day aims to create awareness about maintaining a healthy liver to avoid any liver-related diseases. The liver is a vital organ that performs various essential functions in the body, like digestion, detoxification, and nutrient storage. World Liver Day began in 2010 due to the increased number of liver diseases among people. It was an initiative by the European Association for the Study of the Liver (EASL) to seek people’s attention to liver health worldwide.
World Liver Day 2025’s theme is ‘Food is Medicine’. It basically throws light on how important it is to have a healthy and balanced diet for a healthy and well-functioning liver. A balanced and nutrition-rich diet helps to avoid excess buildup of fat, which is necessary for liver health, as fatty liver can lead to disease and raise major concern. But let us first understand what it is.
What is a fatty liver?
Fatty liver is a serious problem that occurs due to the buildup of excess fat in the liver cells. Also known as hepatic steatosis, when the fat content exceeds 5-10% of the liver’s weight, it can lead to severe health issues. This condition can majorly occur due to eating habits, lack of physical activity, or certain medical conditions.
There are two main types of fatty liver:
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) – This happens in people who don’t drink much alcohol. It’s often linked to being overweight, having diabetes, or eating too much unhealthy food.
Alcoholic fatty liver disease – This happens because of drinking too much alcohol over time.
Warning Signs of fatty liver
Fatty liver cannot be easily determined initially, as it does not show any major changes physically. However, as the disease reaches further stages, it starts showing significant symptoms that indicate fatty liver. The common symptoms of fatty liver might include:
Fatigue and Weakness: Always feeling tired and weak, even after getting enough rest and proper food, can be a sign that the liver is struggling to perform its functions properly.
Abdominal Discomfort or Pain: Unusual pain or discomfort in the upper right side of the abdomen, where the liver is located, is a common symptom of fatty liver.
Unexpected Weight Loss: Significant weight loss due to unknown reasons could be due to liver dysfunction.
Yellowing of the Skin or Eyes (Jaundice): Due to fatty liver, the organ won’t be able to work properly, leading to bilirubin, a waste product, building up in the body, leading to yellowing of the skin and eyes.
Swelling in the Abdomen and Legs: A fatty liver can cause fluid retention, leading to swelling in the abdomen (ascites) and legs (edema).
However, it is important to note that these symptoms will only occur when the condition reaches the advanced stages. But regular check ups can help to determine liver health.
Thus, it is very important to keep track of liver health and include all the food and nutrition in your diet that are beneficial for the liver. Therefore, to stop building excess fat in the liver, it is also important to take precautions, do more physical activities, and take an improved and balanced diet.