New Study Reveals Fatty Liver Disease is Often Overlooked and Leading to Late Diagnosis
Thursday 12 June, 2025 – In light of Global Fatty Liver Day, new research has been released that sheds light on the alarming trend of fatty liver disease being consistently overlooked, leading to late diagnosis. The findings come from a survey of patients with fatty liver disease, with more than half reporting receiving no support following their diagnosis and a third being diagnosed at a late stage.
Fatty liver disease, also known as MASLD (Metabolic dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease), is estimated to affect up to 1 in 5 people in the UK. The main risk factors are being overweight, an unhealthy diet or living with type 2 diabetes.
The survey, conducted by the British Liver Trust, found that among 687 people living with MASLD, 68% were overweight or obese and 35% had type 2 diabetes. Shockingly, more than half (55%) said they had received no support with weight management, eating a healthy diet or physical activity, which are key factors in treating this disease. In the early stages, reducing weight and improving diet can either halt disease progression or even reverse liver damage. Additionally, over a third of respondents said their diagnosis came at a late stage, when it was too late for effective treatment.
With an estimated two thirds of the UK population classified as overweight or obese, the charity is calling for better awareness among both the general population and healthcare professionals. The British Liver Trust is urging widespread, systematic case finding – including routine testing and liver scanning for those at risk – to enable earlier diagnosis and better outcomes. The charity also emphasizes the need for new treatments to be introduced alongside comprehensive education for healthcare professionals, to ensure patients receive appropriate support at the right time.
MASLD is affecting an increasing number of people across the UK, with mortality rates in England alone rising by 44% between 2019 and 2023, with the highest rates seen in the North of England.
Pamela Healy OBE, Chief Executive at the British Liver Trust, states: “For too long, widespread misunderstandings around liver health have meant that large numbers of people are unaware of the risks to their liver from being overweight, or from eating too much unhealthy or ultra-processed food. People are frequently told how these lifestyle factors increase their risk of heart disease and type 2 diabetes, but the risk of fatty liver disease is rarely discussed.”
She continues, “We want to see MASLD given the same attention as other major conditions, and we need effective changes to ensure that everyone at risk receives the right treatment at the right time.”
One individual, Sara, shares her tragic story of her father being told he had a fatty liver in 2014 but only receiving one scan in 2016. In 2024, he was diagnosed with MASLD and passed away just four months later at the age of 62. Sara and her family are still struggling to come to terms with his preventable death and she says, “If we’d gotten that MASLD diagnosis a little bit sooner, if he’d just had a few more weeks, and if he had been put under surveillance a few years earlier, they would have seen his liver was getting worse and it wouldn’t have gotten to this point.”
Professor Philip Newsome, a leading liver expert from King’s College Hospital London and medical advisor to the British Liver Trust, explains, “MASLD is a growing public health concern across the UK. We are seeing promising advances in research with several new treatments showing encouraging results. However, there is an urgent need to translate these developments into clinical practice, ensuring early detection and better treatments are embedded within the NHS to deliver real benefits for patients.”
This alarming issue needs to be addressed in order to prevent unnecessary deaths and improve the overall health of the population. The British Liver Trust is committed to raising awareness and advocating for better support and treatment for those living with fatty liver disease.
Derick is an experienced reporter having held multiple senior roles for large publishers across Europe. Specialist subjects include small business and financial emerging markets.