How Long does it Take to Reverse a Fatty Liver? (5 Facts).

Fatty Liver disease has been a new epidemic in the last few decades, especially in the USA. According to Studies, More than 35% of the American citizen have Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease. 

And you might be one of them and don’t even know. That’s because fatty liver is typically a symptomless disease. 

If you have or know someone with fatty liver disease, you might wonder about what it takes to reverse fatty liver and how long it takes to reverse to standard.

In this article, I will provide an evidence-based answer about the time it takes to reverse fatty liver and what you can do to accelerate this. 

1. Not all fatty liver stages are reversible.

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) passes into different stages. Fat accumulation inside the liver cells is the initial event of fatty liver disease.

Fat accumulation may progress into actual inflammation (steatohepatitis). Eventually, the inflammation destroys liver cells and replaces them with fibrous tissue.

There are several staging systems for NAFLD. However, the most commonly used and most accurate predictor of the severity is the NASH Clinical Research Network Scoring System Fibrosis Score.

The fibrosis score is based on the degree of damage in the liver biopsy (a pathological, not clinical, score).

The below table is a simplified version of the scoring system to help you understand the different stages:

Untreated Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease can progress into fibrosis and end-stage liver cirrhosis.

In the early stages (most people have the mild form of NAFLD), there is often a simple fat accumulation inside your liver cells without real damage. Reversing the condition is possible in these early stages (often in fibrosis stages F1 and F2e.

Unfortunately, as the inflammation and fibrosis continue, the late stages of liver fibrosis and cirrhosis are often irreversible.

MORE: 8 Warning Signs of a Dying Liver.

2. Stopping the progression of fatty liver is a more realistic goal.

There is no specific treatment for fatty liver that completely reverses the condition. Only lifestyle modifications such as weight loss and diet control are the most effective.

Removing the root causes of damage, such as obesity and bad eating habits, will give the liver a chance to repair and reverse the fatty liver accumulation.

The earlier the stage, the more likely you will reverse the damage. However, a minority of people can completely reverse the damage. The reversal is difficult due to:

• The difficulty of obtaining and maintaining weight loss. There is a lack of specific treatments for the liver fatty liver.
• The complexity of the disease itself (Some people are genetically predisposed more than others to NAFLD).
• Advanced stages of the fatty liver lead to irreversible fibrosis that is unlikely to be reversed.

As a result, the damage is irreversible in many patients. But the good news is you can prevent further damage rather than seeking reversal.

Prevention of further damage of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease is a more realistic and achievable goal due to the lack of effective medical treatment for this case. Research evidence says this, and you don’t have to get upset about such facts. Fatty liver disease is not a severe

3. How long does it take to reverse a fatty liver?

As we explained before, not all types of nonalcoholic fatty liver are reversible.

Fortunately, most people have mild to moderate forms of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.

Mild fatty liver disease can be reversible within a few months if you follow the standard dietary advice and lose weight. However, the time it takes to reverse fatty liver is highly variable, depending on various factors.

Factors that delay or prevent the reversal of fatty liver disease:

• Being obese: BMI more than 28. (calculate your BMI).
• Alochol drinking.
• Diabetes mellitus.
• Older ages (>50 years).
• Late-stage fatty liver in biopsy (Stage 3 or 4) with inflammation.
• Elevated liver enzymes (more than double the upper limit of normal).

You can’t modify some of the above factors you can’t change, such as older age and diabetes. However, you can control the remaining factors, such as weight and diet, to accelerate the reversal of fatty liver.

4. The Single best strategy to reverse fatty liver is weight loss.

NAFLD is simply fat accumulation inside the liver cells. In other words, it refers to an obese liver. Losing weight is the most effective strategy for reversing fatty liver in less time.

Weight loss will make the liver lose its fat content as a part of the weight loss process.

Research evidence supports that weight loss will help reverse fatty liver accumulation and improve liver function (reference1, reference2).

Current practice guidelines recommend losing weight through diet programs, exercise, and lifestyle modifications.

However, losing weight is difficult to achieve and maintain. So, a weight loss surgery is also a very effective way to accelerate the reversal of fatty liver.

Some healthcare centers consider bariatric surgery if weight loss plans fail six months (reference).

In conclusion, weight loss is the most effective way to reverse fatty liver. However, Don’t lose weight too fast, as it may temporarily increase the stress on your liver due to rapid weight loss.

5. Other treatments that accelerate fatty liver healing.

Other effective treatments that may decrease the time needed to reverse fatty liver:

• Regular physical exercise.
• Avoiding alochol.
• Blood glucose level control for diabetic individuals.
• Vitamin E supplementation.
• Drugs that increase your body’s sensitivity to insulin, such as metformin.
• Any medications that help you lose weight.

Final thoughts:

The time needed to reverse fatty liver depends on the severity of the fatty liver disease, your age, the degree of weight loss, and lifestyle adjustments you are willing to apply.

No one answer fits all patients. But common mild to moderate fatty liver disease will take anywhere from 3 months to one or two years to be fully reversed, provided that you are compliant with treatment and your condition is reversible.

The reversal is not achievable for all people. However, stopping the progression of the disease is a more realistic and achievable goal.

So, sticking to the standard lifestyle, dietary, and weight loss advice is vital even if your condition is not fully reversible.

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