Over 120 Million People In India Alone Suffer from Liver Disease, Says Doctor: Know Leading Causes Behind It

Liver disease is silently emerging as one of India's biggest health concerns, and the numbers are growing every year. Experts point to Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD), (recently renamed Metabolic Dysfunction-associated Steatotic Liver Disease, (MASLD), as the leading reason behind this trend. Medical experts note that more than 120 million people in India alone now have NAFLD/MASLD.

The alarming rise is strongly linked to lifestyle factors such as poor nutrition, consumption of processed foods, lack of regular physical activity, prolonged sitting because of very long hours spent in the office, and chronic stress. Increasing cases of early-onset diabetes and insulin resistance among young adults further accelerate this damage process.

Recent events also bring this threat into the spotlight. The sudden demise of Tamil actor Abhinay on November 10 at the age of mere 44 years sent shockwaves in the entertainment industry. Reports said the actor had been fighting a critical liver condition for several months and had recently gone for treatment. His untimely demise underlines that liver diseases, once considered to affect only older adults or those with alcohol dependence, have now started affecting younger individuals at an alarming pace.

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To make sense of what's driving this growing health crisis, Dr Naveen Ganjoo, Senior Consultant, Hepatology and Integrated Liver Care, Aster RV Hospital, Bengaluru, helped us understand the root causes and early warning signs. Here is everything he shared with us.

Causes of Liver Disease Rise in Young India

Dr Ganjoo explains that the liver is one of the most important organs in detoxification, metabolism, and hormonal balance. On the other hand, contemporary lifestyle habits are forcing the liver to work excessively.

"Bad nutrition, lack of physical activities, long office hours coupled with stress in the younger generation are leading causes for liver illnesses. Early diabetes in these age groups has made it difficult, dangerous and slowly ruining the liver in the younger generation," explained Dr Ganjoo.

According to him, here are the top causes behind liver disease epidemic in India:

1. Poor Nutrition and Processed Food Overconsumption

The liver serves to store fat, filter out toxins, and work to regulate blood sugar. A diet high in refined carbohydrates, sugary beverages, deep-fried foods, packaged snacks, and high-fat fast food causes accumulation of fat in liver cells.

Over time, this accumulation of fat leads to inflammation and fibrosis, eventually progressing to cirrhosis or liver failure.

2. Sedentary Lifestyle

Remote work culture and a screen-heavy job has brought down the levels of physical activity. Lack of movement results in slowed metabolism and increased fat deposition in the liver. Sitting for more than eight hours during the day is associated with a higher risk for fatty liver and insulin resistance.

3. Stress and Irregular Sleep

Chronic stress can raise cortisol levels, which may cause fat storage in the liver, hence leading to metabolic imbalance. Disturbances in sleep cycles, like sleeping late and poor-quality sleep, interfere with insulin sensitivity, worsening liver fat accumulation.

4. Early Onset Diabetes and Metabolic Syndrome

“Diabetes is appearing much earlier in India, often late 20s and early 30s,” Dr Ganjoo noted. High blood sugar and unmanaged insulin resistance directly damage the liver tissue and hamper the liver's ability to metabolise fat.

5. Alcohol

Although NAFLD/MASLD is a metabolic condition, alcohol-related liver disease has continued to be a major cause of liver failure in India. Binge-drinking-culture among young adults pushes the liver beyond its healing capacity.

Warning Signs of Liver Damage

Liver disease is frequently referred to as a silent killer since symptoms only appear when severe damage has taken place. Common early warning signs include:

• Unexplained fatigue
• Abdominal discomfort or fullness
• Persistent acidity or bloating
• Unexplained weight gain or sudden weight loss
• Yellowing of skin or eyes, in advanced cases

How to Protect the Liver

Here are some expert-approved tips by Dr Ganjoo that will help you protect the liver:

• Opt for balanced meals rich in whole grains, vegetables, fruits, healthy fats, and lean proteins.
• Engage in at least 30 to 45 minutes of exercise daily like brisk walking, strength training, cycling, or swimming.
• Keep a regular sleep schedule and manage stress.
• Avoid or limit alcohol intake.

Dr Ganjoo concluded, “Liver disease is largely preventable by early correction of lifestyle and regular check-ups.”

Bottomline

Liver diseases are no longer an issue of alcohol consumption alone. Lifestyle, stress, poor nutrition, and metabolic disorders are emerging as major threats-affecting young Indians earlier and more aggressively than ever.