Teetotaller? You could still have a fatty liver

About 40 per cent of Singapore's population could have non-alcoholic fatty liver disease

- Akshita Nanda

Mr Gabriel Ng, 39, does not like alcohol, so he was surprised to learn that he had a fatty liver that put him at risk of further organ damage.

He did not even have any symptoms to alert him that he had non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

"I got to know by accident," says the supply chain manager. "It's a silent condition, so many don't know about it until they get to a bad state."

In 2021, he contracted a viral infection that gave him diarrhea and left him so dehydrated that he had to go to the hospital.

The blood tests at that time indicated elevated levels of liver enzymes, which required further investigation.

A biopsy done later found that he had fibrosis or scarring of the liver, which put him at increased risk of developing liver cancer or other complications of the organ.

The good news is that weight loss, diet and exercise can help control or even reverse non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

After his diagnosis, Mr Ng cut down on eating fried and fatty foods, and increased his physical activity. He also takes the GLP-1 agonist liraglutide to help suppress his appetite.

He has lost some weight and his doctor says his prognosis is good if he continues to sustain his weight loss.

Mr Ng is now committed to a healthy lifestyle, despite the challenges. He is working while doing a master's degree in business administration and caring for his two daughters, aged four and six. His wife works in quality control.

"Having to eat the kids' leftovers is disrupting my diet," he says with a laugh.

TWO IN FIVE IN SINGAPORE COULD HAVE THIS DISEASE

An estimated 40 per cent of the Singapore population has non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, according to some studies, and the prevalence is estimated to rise.

It is diagnosed when there is evidence of steatosis or fat build-up in the liver not attributable to alcohol consumption, medications or other causes of chronic liver disease.