Over time, more and more of our population is dangerously over weight. Fat accumulates in the liver causing inflammation, scarring, and cirrhosis. Abnormally large amounts of fat stored in the liver is referred to "Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease" or NAFLD. About 5 out of 100 patients NAFLD severe inflammation, or hepatitis. THe hepatitis the occurs as a result of NAFLD is called steatohepatitis. Twenty to thirty Epidemic levels of obesity will cause a second wave of liver disease, cirrhosis, and liver cancer. Obesity is having and Body Mass Index (BMI) greater than 30. Morbidly obese is having a BMI greater than 35. Obesity and morbid obesity will also cause a sharp rise in diabetes, heart disease, vascular disease, and kidney failure.

1987 Rates of Obesity

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1996 Rates of Obesity

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2003 Rates of Obesity

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2006 Rates of Obesity

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Unless there are dramatic efforts to reduce the obesity epidemic, by the year 2025, fatty liver will cause more people to need a liver transplant compared to hepatitis C and B infection.