Chloe was diagnosed with Fatty Liver

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.