Fatty liver disease is a condition that can quietly develop for years without anyone realising there's a problem, producing signs that are incredibly easy to miss in the early stages.
Mild tiredness, feeling low on energy, or being sluggish are key signs of the condition that easily get blamed on stress or hectic schedules.
Dr Blen Tesfu, a physician and Medical Advisor at Welzo who specialises in metabolic health and liver conditions, told GB News that the liver can keep working normally even as fat builds up inside it, meaning the disease can progress silently for years.
If there is any discomfort at all, it tends to be as subtle as a dull ache or a sensation of fullness in the upper right part of the abdomen.
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Discomfort associated with fatty liver disease tends to be subtle
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But again, because these feelings come and go, they are easy to brush off - especially when they don't interfere with daily activities.
Because pain isn't a reliable early indicator, Dr Tesfu notes that many cases are only discovered by accident during blood tests or scans carried out for completely unrelated reasons.
Beyond tiredness, however, there are other everyday symptoms that might point to liver trouble before any tests pick it up.
Persistent bloating, difficulty concentrating, and that frustrating brain fog many people experience can all be linked to fatty liver disease.
But these symptoms can appear even when liver function tests come back completely normal.
Dr Tesfu explained that ongoing fatigue often stems from metabolic stress and low-grade inflammation throughout the body.
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Abdominal bloating and discomfort, on the other hand, can signal changes in how the body is processing and metabolising fat.
As for cognitive difficulties, these may arise from the body's inflammatory response rather than direct liver damage.
While these symptoms on their own can't lead to a definitive diagnosis, they shouldn't be ignored – particularly for those who carry extra weight, have insulin resistance, or struggle with high cholesterol.
Seek medical advice if you have high cholesterol and notice abdominal bloating
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These groups face a higher risk of developing fatty liver disease and may not realise how much their liver has been affected until routine tests reveal the damage.
When symptoms like fatigue, bloating, and brain fog persist alongside other metabolic risk factors, it's worth investigating further.
Getting a proper assessment of liver health could catch problems early, before they have a chance to progress.
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