Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), the liver disease caused by being overweight and obesity and not alcohol, has been found to increase the risk of diabetes and metabolic syndrome.

Such were the findings of an Australian study recently presented at the Australian Gastroenterology Week.

According to lead researcher Dr Leon Adams, School of Medicine and Pharmacology at The University of Western Australia:

"The study establishes a link between the liver and diabetes. It also suggests that NAFLD is a step in the pathway towards the development of diabetes when we have previously thought the reverse to be true - that diabetes leads to the development of NAFLD.

The concern about NAFLD is that it can lead to inflammation and fibrosis of the liver and therefore cirrhosis-related problems. When people hear of cirrhosis they tend to think of alcohol but NAFLD occurs when the liver is affected by diet, not alcohol."

There goes one more reason to stay healthy and prevent getting overweight.

Find more details from The University of Western Australia.

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