Sedentary lifestyle, bad food habit affect liver health: Docs | Patna News

Patna: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is becoming a major concern in the state, especially with change in lifestyle and food habits in urban areas. This year’s World Liver Day theme, ‘Food is medicine’, stresses the kind of items we consume and the role they plays in keeping different organs healthy.
The Union govt last year recognised NAFLD as a major non-communicable disease. “It could be assumed a silent epidemic with community prevalence ranging from 9% to 32%, depending on age, gender, area of residence and socio-economic status. In other words, we are saying that out one to three out of 10 people will have fatty liver or a related disease,” read a statement by Press Information Bureau.
City-based hepatologists and gastroenterologists too pointed towards a spike in the NAFLD cases in the state, attributing to sedentary lifestyle and bad food habits.
Dr Ashish Kumar Jha, director of gastroenterology and hepatology at Jayaprabha Medanta, said that while earlier around 25% of the urban population suffered from NAFLD, the number has increased even in rural areas in the past decade, with around 15 to 20% of the population facing this health issue. “This could be because of rich diet and decrease in physical work. In fact, even junk food has entered the rural areas. Earlier in rural areas, people mainly used to walk or use cycles, but now many are using bikes,” said Dr Jha.
He advised people to do at least 30 minutes of aerobic, cycling or exercise in gym. “One should also focus on the food. We recommend more fibrous and high-protein food for people with liver issues, and they should cut down on fat and carbohydrates,” he said.
Another city-based gastroenterologist, Dr Vijay Shanker said apart from NAFLD, hepatitis A and E are also reported in summer season because of food poisoning, and hepatitis B and C, caused by blood infection.
Hepatologist and gastroenterologist Dr S K Sarin, who is director of the Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences, said that many non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as diabetes, heart disease and cancer were linked to liver health, underscoring the importance of maintaining a healthy liver.
Patna: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is becoming a major concern in the state, especially with change in lifestyle and food habits in urban areas. This year’s World Liver Day theme, ‘Food is medicine’, stresses the kind of items we consume and the role they plays in keeping different organs healthy.
The Union govt last year recognised NAFLD as a major non-communicable disease. “It could be assumed a silent epidemic with community prevalence ranging from 9% to 32%, depending on age, gender, area of residence and socio-economic status. In other words, we are saying that out one to three out of 10 people will have fatty liver or a related disease,” read a statement by Press Information Bureau.
City-based hepatologists and gastroenterologists too pointed towards a spike in the NAFLD cases in the state, attributing to sedentary lifestyle and bad food habits.
Dr Ashish Kumar Jha, director of gastroenterology and hepatology at Jayaprabha Medanta, said that while earlier around 25% of the urban population suffered from NAFLD, the number has increased even in rural areas in the past decade, with around 15 to 20% of the population facing this health issue. “This could be because of rich diet and decrease in physical work. In fact, even junk food has entered the rural areas. Earlier in rural areas, people mainly used to walk or use cycles, but now many are using bikes,” said Dr Jha.
He advised people to do at least 30 minutes of aerobic, cycling or exercise in gym. “One should also focus on the food. We recommend more fibrous and high-protein food for people with liver issues, and they should cut down on fat and carbohydrates,” he said.
Another city-based gastroenterologist, Dr Vijay Shanker said apart from NAFLD, hepatitis A and E are also reported in summer season because of food poisoning, and hepatitis B and C, caused by blood infection.
Hepatologist and gastroenterologist Dr S K Sarin, who is director of the Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences, said that many non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as diabetes, heart disease and cancer were linked to liver health, underscoring the importance of maintaining a healthy liver.