What is fatty liver and how serious is it?

It is fat accumulation in liver cells, now very common in India and increasingly found in people who are not overweight. Most cases are asymptomatic and detected incidentally on ultrasound or through mildly raised liver enzymes. The reason it matters is that a proportion progresses to inflammation and, over years, fibrosis and cirrhosis. It is also a marker of insulin resistance and cardiovascular risk more broadly. The evidence-backed treatment is weight reduction of around seven to ten percent where relevant, reducing refined carbohydrates and fructose, particularly sweetened drinks, and exercise — which helps even without weight loss.