Obesity has become one of the major health problems across all borders, all ages, and all races. Most countries of the world are facing this ever-increasing problem and are spending a lot of their health-allocated budget to manage obesity-related complications. The dangerous trend of increasing obesity in children and teenagers is posing severe threats to the health of this particular age group. Besides the rising incidence of heart attack and stroke, fatty liver disease and liver failure in teenagers are also attributed to obesity in a significant part.

According to the American Liver foundation’s recent report, 18.7% of late adolescents and young adults (18‐24 years) and 24.0% of older young adults (25‐30 years) are suffering from non-alcoholic fallty liver disease (NAFLD) and most of them are obese.

Experts at liver transplantation centers are registering more and more cases of liver collapse. They are of the view that if young adults with obesity and fatty liver disease are not treated in time, they may finally succumb to liver failure and will need liver transplantation by 30-40 years of age.

Obesity and Liver Disease

Liver problems associated with teen obesity may take several forms, from less severe fat accumulation to more severe Non-Alcoholic SteatoHepatitis (NASH), which can lead to liver cancer and failure. The mechanism for fat accumulation in the liver is multi-layered, but insulin resistance is thought to be the main culprit. Abdominal or central obesity is particularly dangerous as insulin resistance is directly related to visceral fat in the abdomen. Youngsters who are obese might have the following pattern of fat accumulated in the liver:

  • Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver (NAFL): In this condition, only excessive fat accumulates in the liver, with no apparent inflammation of liver cells. This is an entirely reversible condition if excess weight is lost in time.
  • Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis (NASH): NASH is the advanced form of fat accumulation in the liver in which inflammation, destruction, and scarring of the liver tissue are also present. Earlier stages of this condition are also reversible.
  • Cirrhosis: Cirrhosis is the advanced stage of NAFLD, as the liver is apt to fail.

Stages of Liver Damage - Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease and Obesity

It has been found that 1-2% of patients (having non-alcoholic steatohepatitis) develop cirrhosis of the liver annually. Cirrhosis of the liver is the end of the road disease, and anyone who succumbs to cirrhosis of the liver develops liver failure and finally needs liver transplantation.

Liver transplantation, although a life-saving option for the patient, is practically tricky as donors are quite a few. Some lucky persons get a donor for liver transplantation and survive but for a few years with the agony of taking immunosuppressive drugs. Some of the patients with cirrhosis develop HCC (hepatocellular carcinoma) liver cancer.

Weight Loss and Fat in the Liver

Liver failure does not come out of the blue in fatty liver disease; several years of remaining obese and getting progressive liver injury leads to this condition. NAFLD is a completely asymptomatic condition initially, and that’s why it is not suspected until it is relatively advanced. The tools that help detect liver disease at the initial stages are blood tests and liver ultrasonography. All obese children and teenagers should be screened for fatty liver disease by these tests to detect the disease earlier.

Losing Weight Stands as Number One Check Against Liver Failure in Fatty Liver Disease.

As already stated, insulin resistance is the main culprit in causing fatty liver disease; measures that reduce insulin resistance help reverse this condition. The most efficient check against fatty liver disease progression is excessive fat loss. Losing weight earlier is the key. Bariatric surgery is the number one choice in such instances as it causes long-term weight loss over a short period. Teenagers with a body mass index of 35 or more should undergo bariatric surgery to stop dangerous happenings.

Bariatric and Metabolic Surgery

Bariatric surgery prevents fatty liver disease and reverses even severe liver disease. Cirrhosis is the only condition that can not be reversed, so earlier consideration for Bariatric surgery prevents lethal complications.

Now, bariatric surgery is no longer a feared choice for teenagers to lose weight due to skilled bariatric surgery surgeons in certified hospitals.

Various bariatric surgery procedures have proven efficacy and safety in helping teenagers lose weight. Laparoscopic gastric banding, endo-sleeve (ESG), gastric sleeve (VSG), gastric bypass (Roux-en-Y procedure), and duodenal switch surgery are all safe in adolescents. Bariatric surgery is safer at dedicated Bariatric surgery hospitals, where experienced surgeons and anesthetists, clean and sterilized operation facilities, trained staff at every step, and the latest equipment make things easier and safer.

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