Five myths about fatty liver in India
21 April 2026 · 6 min read
Fatty liver is now the most common liver disease in India. It is also the most misunderstood. Here are the five myths I correct most often in clinic.
1. "I am thin, so I cannot have fatty liver"
You can. South Asians develop visceral fat at lower BMIs than other populations. We see lean fatty liver every week in clinic. Body composition analysis often reveals what the weighing scale hides.
2. "Fatty liver is harmless"
Most early fatty liver is reversible — but a meaningful minority progresses to inflammation (steatohepatitis), scarring (fibrosis), and eventually cirrhosis. The point of finding it early is to act early.
3. "I just need a tablet"
There is no shortcut. The most powerful treatment we have for fatty liver is a structured combination of dietary change, resistance and aerobic exercise, sleep, and treatment of the metabolic root cause. Medication, where used, is a supplement to that — not a substitute.
4. "I need a liver biopsy"
In most patients, no. Shear-wave elastography combined with simple blood-based scores can stage your fibrosis without needles for the majority of cases.
5. "My liver enzymes are normal so I'm fine"
Not quite. Many patients with significant fatty liver have normal liver enzymes. Ultrasound, elastography, and a careful clinical assessment matter more than ALT alone.
If you have been told you have fatty liver — or you have risk factors and have never been screened — book a consultation. We will assess you properly, plan something realistic, and follow up to make sure it works.