When Chloe went to her GP to have a hepatitis B test she was diagnosed with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. While this came as a surprise to Chloe, statistically it’s not unusual. 1 in 4 people in Victoria have fatty liver disease, and this number is rising.
The burden of this disease in Australia, and most developed countries, manifests in increasing levels of advanced liver disease and primary liver cancer. So why don’t we know more about it?
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, or NAFLD, is an umbrella term for a range of liver conditions affecting people who drink little or no alcohol. And as the name implies, the main characteristic of NAFLD is too much fat stored in our liver cells.
In this Liver Awareness Month podcast, Chloe shares her experience of how she was diagnosed with NAFLD, the impact on her lifestyle and the changes she has made since then.
Chloe says that “reducing the fun things – fats, sugars and salts”, has been a major step. She no longer takes good health for granted and is now has a new focus on “living lighter” with a goal of losing 5-10% of her weight.
“Even if you don’t think you’re at risk of fatty liver disease, it’s a great idea to get tested, because it can happen to anybody”, says Chloe.
We acknowledge the traditional owners of the lands where we work - the lands of the Woi-Wurrung Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nations. We express our gratitude to them for their continued care and curation of these lands and waters. We pay our respects to Elders past and present.
LiverWELL observes and honours the Kulin Nation's intrinsic connection to land, sky and water, and the creator Bunjil. LiverWELL is committed to being led and informed by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders on bridging health outcomes for communities and improving liver health.