Nearly four in ten adults in Hyderabad carry fatty liver disease, a condition increasingly linked to lifestyle factors rather than alcohol consumption, according to a major pan-India study published in ‘The Lancet Regional Health.’ The prevalence of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) in the city stands at 40.9%, slightly above the national average of 38.9%.
The study, conducted by the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), surveyed over 10,000 adults across 27 cities. Findings indicate that nearly 46% of men and 36.2% of women in Hyderabad are affected by the disease. Doctors attribute the rise to sedentary lifestyles, irregular eating habits, consumption of processed foods, and increasing rates of metabolic disorders common in urban environments.
Among major metropolitan areas, Delhi recorded the highest prevalence at 41.3%, followed closely by Chennai at 41.2%. Bengaluru reported 40.6%, positioning Hyderabad among the most affected large cities in India. The research highlighted obesity as a primary risk factor, with individuals experiencing class-2 obesity demonstrating nearly 14 times the risk of developing MASLD compared to those with a normal weight. Diabetes doubled the risk, while hypertension and abnormal cholesterol levels further exacerbated vulnerability.
Medical professionals are also observing cases of “lean fatty liver,” where individuals with a normal body weight develop the condition due to underlying metabolic risks like diabetes or excess abdominal fat. This challenges the traditional perception that only overweight individuals are susceptible to the disease.
A 2025 survey conducted by the Asian Institute of Gastroenterology revealed that over 25% of urban residents and approximately 20% of rural populations in the region are affected by fatty liver disease. The prevalence among IT employees, characterized by prolonged periods of sitting and high stress levels, reached as high as 84%.
City specialists report a growing impact on oncology wards, with cases of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the most common primary liver cancer, increasing sharply. Weekly diagnoses have nearly doubled in recent years. Dr. Mukta Srinivasulu, former director of MNJ Cancer Hospital, explained that HCC is often caused by cirrhosis, alcohol abuse, viral infections like hepatitis B and C, and increasingly, fatty liver diseases linked to obesity and diabetes. “The obesity epidemic, sedentary lifestyle and poor diet are now major contributors,” she said.
Dr. Anand Kulkarni, a senior consultant hepatologist at AIG Hospitals, noted a shift in the patterns of liver disease. “We are seeing that nearly 40–50% of our liver cancer patients are relatively young. Many come late, often with large tumours and sudden severe abdominal pain. Diabetes is a common underlying factor. MASLD, obesity and diabetes are closely linked, while alcohol remains another significant cause,” he said, adding that fatty liver has surpassed viral hepatitis as a leading cause of serious liver complications.
Experts emphasize that fatty liver disease is often reversible if detected early. “Fat in the liver is a warning sign. It can double the risk of heart disease and significantly raise the risk of heart failure. Early detection is the key, as fatty liver can be reversed within 3 to 6 months. Even early fibrosis can improve within 8 to 10 months with proper treatment and lifestyle changes,” Dr. Kulkarni stated.
Health officials indicate that the government is exploring the implementation of artificial intelligence-based screening in public hospitals to identify high-risk individuals at an earlier stage. An official stated that the deployment of AI-enabled screening tools could analyze routine health data to identify individuals at risk, facilitating earlier evaluation and care, and making screening more accessible and scalable alongside existing non-communicable disease interventions.
