I was told to follow an Atkins type diet leading up to my pre-op diet to reduce the fatty liver. My question is......does fatty liver come from fat? or overconsumption of carbs and sugar?

@RubygirlThe most common cause is alcoholism. Almost all heavy drinkers have fatty liver disease. Other causes are toxins, certain drugs, and inherited metabolic disorders. In many cases it has been associated with high blood cholesterol, obesity, and type 2 diabetes. : )

Edited December 14, 201411 yr by Elode

It just means you have more fat deposits in your liver ....that's the short of it. It's normal to have fat in your liver but to much of it prevents your liver from doing its job properly over time.

I had a fatty liver and had to do a liquid diet for a week before my surgery it went down. I cant say if its from alchol or eatting poorly as I did both..

In addition to what @@Elode said the concern for WLS is that a fatty liver can get in the way. Especially if your doctor is doing surgery laproscopically. My doctor said it is rare but he had had to turn away a patient on the table when the liver is too fatty. I didn't do Atkins since I wasn't required to do a pre-op diet but since they did suggest we begin cutting back. I just started reducing my calories, increasing my Protein intake and watching my fat & carbs.

Simple it's from Carbs/sweets and or booze/beer.

Thanks for your responses. I don't drink alcohol but I do or did eat many many sugary carbs.

For those of us that suffer from this disease and don't drink the term is called NASH..... Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis (which means fatty liver). I have had this condition for years. My biopsy of the liver clearly showed a layer of fat on the liver. It is an asymptomatic disease but can cause more serious liver ailments later on such as liver cancer. I was not morbidly obese when I was first diagnosed. My chart said mildly obese. Ha. Anyway 15 or so years later I was morbid obese but nothing was ever said that this would cause issues with my surgery. My doctor put me on easy pre-op diet of 2 shakes a day and one "sensible dinner' for one week. He had no problem working around my liver thank goodness. I am hopeful that with my weight loss this condition will dissipate.

How they know I have a fatty liver

It started with blood tests. Not sure what they saw but it lead to them eventually doing a liver biopsy. It was confirmed then. Your PCP would be the person who can help determine if this is an issue for you. But honestly since it is an asymptomatic disease I would instead ask the dr if he thinks the issue will go away with weight loss, if there is any chance you have this problem. Even though I was diagnosed with NASH many years ago I never had to do anything different or take any special meds. I knew that my weight did not help my liver, that's for sure. I am hopeful the problem will be eliminated once my BMI is where it should be.

Edited December 15, 201411 yr by jjinWA

I actually thought it was ironic that I was diagnosed with NASH. I have never been one to drink alcohol. Never frequent bars and don't even own a bottle of any kind in my home. So why me??? But my addiction was food instead and I guess that made me a candidate for a fatty liver. I have never asked if it was the foods in my diet or if it was my weight. Either way I expect my new lifestyle to be helpful in resolving the problem.

Edited December 17, 201411 yr by jjinWA

I wasn't diagnosed with NASH. My doctor just cautioned that it could be a barrier to surgery and to start cutting back pre-op.

@@gigim84 have you ever had a CT scan, MRI or biopsy done? That would be the only way they could tell. Lab results help but do not provide a clear picture.

@@gigim84 have you ever had a CT scan, MRI or biopsy done? That would be the only way they could tell. Lab results help but do not provide a clear picture.

yes I have had CT and MRI but not for that purpose and nobody ever said anything. ..

So if it is from alcohol - I was a little bit of a heavy drinker previous to starting this journey on the weekends- and you do have a fatty liver what do they do? Scared a little now just for anything but really being denied the surgery.

I think the idea is if the doctor catches early they have you work on reducing it through diet before surgery. Speak with your doctor about your concerns and go from there.