NHS - Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD / MASLD)

Tier 1: Established: peer-reviewed research or government health authority
Publisher: National Health Service (UK) · Published: September 5, 2026 · Accessed: September 5, 2026

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• Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a common condition where fat builds up in your liver. It is often linked to being overweight and can usually be treated with healthy lifestyle changes. It is also known as metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD).
• NAFLD does not usually cause any symptoms. Many people have it without realising. It is usually found when you have tests for another reason. Some people do have symptoms including feeling very tired, feeling generally unwell, or liver pain or discomfort felt in the tummy (abdomen) under the right side of the ribs.
• You are more likely to get NAFLD if you are overweight, particularly with a lot of fat around your stomach and waist; do not have a healthy diet or are not very physically active; have type 2 diabetes; have polycystic ovary syndrome; have high blood pressure or high cholesterol; or are over 50.
• NAFLD is usually diagnosed after blood tests or scans done for another reason show signs of liver problems. A GP will ask about symptoms, check height, weight and waist measurement, ask about alcohol to rule out alcohol-related liver disease, and may arrange more blood tests and sometimes scans such as an ultrasound scan.
• NAFLD has 4 stages: stage 1 fatty liver (steatosis) is a build-up of fat with no damage; stage 2 MASH (metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis, previously called NASH) is fat that has caused inflammation; stage 3 fibrosis is liver damage that will usually still work well; stage 4 cirrhosis is severe damage that can cause serious health problems including internal bleeding, liver failure, liver cancer or sepsis. Most people only have stage 1, which does not usually cause any problems; a small number progress, and lifestyle changes can help prevent this.
• Treatment is healthy lifestyle change: eat a healthy balanced diet, exercise regularly (at least 150 minutes a week), lose weight if overweight, do not drink more than 14 alcohol units a week, and do not smoke. If diagnosed, you should have check-ups at least once a year and tests every 2 to 3 years to monitor the condition; damage (fibrosis or cirrhosis) means referral to a liver specialist.
• See a GP if you think you could have NAFLD or think you have a higher risk of getting it.