US Medical Term · conditions
Fatty Liver Disease
Enfermedad de hígado graso
Also: Hígado graso (regional variant)
In 9 languages
| Language | Term |
|---|---|
| English | Fatty Liver Disease |
| Spanish (Español) | Enfermedad de hígado graso |
| Chinese (中文) | 脂肪肝 |
| Korean (한국어) | 지방간 |
| Vietnamese (Tiếng Việt) | Bệnh gan nhiễm mỡ |
| Filipino (Tagalog) | Fatty Liver Disease |
| Portuguese (Português) | Doença hepática gordurosa |
| Thai (ภาษาไทย) | โรคไขมันพอกตับ |
| Japanese (日本語) | 脂肪肝疾患 |
What it means
Fatty liver disease occurs when too much fat builds up in the liver cells. There are two main types: alcoholic fatty liver disease, caused by heavy alcohol use, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), which is not related to alcohol. NAFLD is strongly linked to obesity, type 2 diabetes, high triglycerides, and metabolic syndrome. In many people it causes no symptoms, though some experience fatigue and upper right abdominal discomfort. If inflammation develops alongside fat buildup, the condition is called NASH (non-alcoholic steatohepatitis), which can progress to cirrhosis and liver failure. Treatment focuses on weight loss, healthy diet, exercise, and controlling blood sugar and cholesterol levels.
How to say it
Sentences a patient might use with a doctor, nurse, pharmacist, or insurer:
My doctor told me my liver has excess fat and I need to make lifestyle changes to prevent it from worsening.
Mi médico me dijo que mi hígado tiene exceso de grasa y necesito hacer cambios en el estilo de vida para evitar que empeore.
I have non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and want to know which foods I should avoid.
Tengo hígado graso no alcohólico y quiero saber qué alimentos debo evitar.
My follow-up liver ultrasound showed the fatty liver is still there — is there medication to treat this?
Mi ultrasonido de seguimiento del hígado mostró que el hígado graso sigue presente. ¿Hay algún medicamento para tratar esto?
Where you'll see it
Related ICD-10-CM category
K76 Other diseases of liverRelated terms
Sources
Last reviewed: September 2026