Older male teens who are obese have a significantly higher risk of developing serious liver disease when they're older

A research study was published in the Journal of Hepatology. It involved 44,248 Swedish males who entered military service in their late teens between the years 1969 and 1970. The researchers reviewed nearly 40 years of their health information. At the end of the study period, 393 of the men were diagnosed with severe liver disease. It was shown that men who were overweight or obese in their late teens were 64 percent more likely to develop a serious liver disease in adulthood. This was compared with men who were of low normal weight in their late teens. In most cases, the liver disease was cirrhosis.

Few people realize the dangers of being overweight, and most overweight teenagers become overweight adults. The more years a person carries excess weight, the more potential harm is caused to their liver and other organs. Fatty liver is an incredibly common liver condition. It affects approximately one in four Americans and Australians. When too much fat accumulates inside the liver, it actually causes damage to liver cells and inflammation. Long term inflammation significantly increases the risk of permanent scarring (cirrhosis).

Fatty liver can be reversed, and early stage cirrhosis can be halted. The problem is, many overweight people don't realize they have a fatty liver, or they don't take the diagnosis seriously. Read what you can do to lose weight and reverse a fatty liver.

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