Fatty liver
- Published in
- Lancet Gastroenterol Hepatol 2023
- People studied
- 101,028
In pooled studies of 101,028 people, about 7 in 10 people with overweight had a fatty liver.
- Checked against
- PubMed 36400097
- Published in
- Lancet Gastroenterol Hepatol 2023
- Last checked
- 30 October 2026
Key takeaway
This pooled analysis of 151 studies with 101,028 people estimated how common fatty liver disease is in adults with overweight or obesity worldwide. About 7 in 10 people with overweight and about 3 in 4 people with obesity had fatty liver disease, and about a third had the inflamed form. About 1 in 5 of those with fatty liver disease had significant scarring of the liver.
At a glance
- Type of study
- meta-analysis of observational studies
- People studied
- 101,028
- Main result
- About 7 in 10 people with overweight had fatty liver disease.
- Strength of evidence
- Long-term or observational studies
What this study does not show
The studies differed a lot, so the figures are estimates. It shows how common the condition is, not what causes it.
Results from studies in groups of people, mostly in diet and movement programmes. They cannot be promised to any one person. This information is educational and does not replace a consultation with a doctor.
More on why
- Genes explain much of the difference in BMILong-term or observational studies · Stunkard et al., NEJM 1990
- Years of lifeLong-term or observational studies · Prospective Studies Collaboration, Lancet 2009
- Heart failure riskLong-term or observational studies · Kenchaiah et al., NEJM 2002
- Fatty liverLong-term or observational studies · Quek et al., Lancet Gastroenterol Hepatol 2023
- The body burns less after weight lossSmall or uncontrolled studies · Leibel et al., NEJM 1995
- Four or more illnesses at onceLong-term or observational studies · Kivimäki et al., Lancet Diabetes Endocrinol 2022
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