Is NAFLD reversible?

Fat in the liver can lessen when insulin resistance, weight, diet, or other contributing factors improve. Inflammation may also settle, but the outlook depends on whether fibrosis or cirrhosis has developed. Liver enzymes can change without showing the full amount of scarring, and symptoms may be absent. Your clinician may combine history and examination with a liver function test, an abdominal ultrasound, or a non-invasive fibrosis assessment. Alcohol use, type 2 diabetes, obesity, medicines, and other liver diseases can affect the plan.

Choose gradual changes you can maintain: regular movement, more fibre-rich and minimally processed foods, appropriate portions, and fewer sugary drinks. A nutrition counsellor or weight management programme can tailor goals to your health and avoid unsafe rapid changes. Continue prescribed diabetes or liver medicines and attend repeat tests. Avoid unregulated cleanses and discuss alcohol openly, since stopping or reducing it may require support for some people. Improvement is assessed through trends and clinical review, not a single home measure.

Arrange medical review if you have a new abnormal liver test, persistent right-upper-abdominal discomfort, unexplained fatigue, or swelling of the legs. Seek emergency help for confusion, fainting, vomiting blood, black stools, yellowing with severe illness, or rapidly enlarging abdominal swelling. These signs can indicate a complication or another urgent condition and should not be managed with a cleanse or diet change alone.

Is my liver likely to have inflammation or scarring? Which change should I prioritise first? How will we measure progress? Should I have a liver function test or abdominal ultrasound? Do I need support with alcohol, diabetes, or weight management?