Heart Health

Fatty liver disease: A threat to the heart?

By , Executive Editor, Harvard Heart Letter

Excess weight can lead to fat buildup in the liver, a condition linked to greater cardiovascular risk.

About one person in four has an often-symptomless condition marked by a buildup of fat inside the liver, called nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Like diabetes, this metabolic disorder is closely linked to obesity, especially excess weight around the middle of the body.

The strongest predictor of fatty liver disease is having type 2 diabetes, and both diseases are closely linked to cardiovascular disease. But obesity usually underlies and connects all these problems together.

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About the Author

photo of Julie Corliss

Julie Corliss, Executive Editor, Harvard Heart Letter

Julie Corliss is the executive editor of the Harvard Heart Letter. Before working at Harvard, she was a medical writer and editor at HealthNews, a consumer newsletter affiliated with The New England Journal of Medicine. She … See Full Bio
View all posts by Julie Corliss

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