Fatty liver disease, a condition marked by excess fat accumulation in the liver, can be reversed with the right lifestyle changes, according to Dr Wendi LeBrett, MD, a gastroenterologist. In a video shared on March 9, Dr Wendi explained the causes of fatty liver and outlined four steps to improve or even reverse the condition.
Dr Wendi emphasized that the two primary causes of fatty liver are alcohol use and metabolic syndromes.
“The first is alcohol use, and the second is metabolic syndromes, conditions that predispose you to having excess fat on your body,” she stated.
She also demonstrated the difference between a healthy liver and one affected by fatty build-up and scarring due to prolonged fat accumulation.
4 Ways to Reverse Fatty Liver, According to Dr Wendi:
1. Stop Drinking Alcohol
Dr Wendi advised that even light or occasional drinking—such as one or two drinks a week—should be avoided.
According to the NHS, consuming large amounts of alcohol even for a few days can result in fat build-up in the liver, a condition known as alcoholic fatty liver disease, which marks the first stage of alcohol-related liver damage.
2. Weight Loss
She explained that shedding excess body weight has been shown to significantly improve fatty liver symptoms.
3. Exercise
Interestingly, Dr Wendi noted that the benefits of exercise go beyond just weight loss:
“Even if you don’t lose weight, exercise itself can improve fatty liver,” she added.
4. Drink Coffee
She cited research that shows coffee—regular or decaffeinated—can help prevent fatty liver from progressing to fibrosis.
According to a May 2015 study, coffee consumption protects against liver fibrosis induced by chemical models of liver damage.
Furthermore, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) estimates that the global prevalence of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) among adults is around 32%, with higher rates in men (40%) than in women (26%). These figures highlight the need for proactive lifestyle interventions to prevent or reverse fatty liver disease.