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You are here: Home / Gastroenterology / Fatty Liver Disease

Fatty Liver Disease

May 12, 2016 By Mona Dave

Fatty_Liver_4

Fatty liver disease in children, known as nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a slow process that occurs over time as fat builds up in the liver. Ultimately, the excess fat leads to damage of the liver, then scarring or fibrosis of the liver, and eventually results in a non-functioning liver or cirrhosis. A child can develop cirrhosis of the liver from excess fat buildup in a similar way that an adult can develop cirrhosis from excess alcohol intake.

Fatty liver disease happens in children who are overweight, obese, or gain too much weight. Fatty liver disease does NOT occur because of too much fat intake, but because of excessive sugar intake. The average child consumes three to four times the amount of sugar their body requires. 

How Excessive Sugar Intake Leads to Fatty Liver Disease

Before sugar enters the bloodstream from the digestive tract, it is broken down into glucose and fructose.

  • Glucose is found in every living cell, and if we do not get it from the diet, our bodies produce it.
  • Fructose is different. Our bodies do not produce any significant amount of fructose because there is no physiological need for it. Fructose can only be metabolized by the liver. This is not a problem if we eat a small amount of fructose, such as from fruit. Eating extra fructose will overload the liver and force the liver to turn the fructose into fat. Repeatedly eating large amounts of sugar will lead to fatty liver disease.

Fatty_Liver_5

Symptoms of Fatty Liver Disease

The symptoms of fatty liver disease vary depending on the stage of the child’s disease. Some symptoms include:

  • Fatigue
  • Abdominal pain
  • Increased liver enzyme levels in the blood

Diagnosis of Fatty Liver Disease

To diagnose if your child has fatty liver disease, the following tests may be performed:

  • Blood tests including liver enzymes
  • Liver ultrasound
  • Liver biopsy

Treatment of Fatty Liver Disease

There is currently no proven medicine to treat fatty liver disease in children. Children benefit most from stopping their weight gain and, in some cases, losing weight. Children and their families should follow key healthy nutrition and diet behaviors:

  • Avoid sugar drinks
  • 60 minutes of some form of physical activity every day, such as playing outside
  • Limiting TV and screen time to one hour or less per day
  • Make half the mealtime plates filled with vegetables
  • Not skipping meals

If you would like more information about gastrointestinal (GI) digestive disorders and nutrition in children, please contact Dr. Mona Dave’s Plano Office or Southlake Office.

Filed Under: Gastroenterology

Digestive Health & Nutrition in Children

Southlake and plano office

Our offices are convienently located in Plano and Southlake, TX. We are dedicated to providing the highest quality of patient care. Dr. Dave and her staff work extremely hard to streamline the referral process, expedite appointment scheduling, and promptly respond to patient calls. Her practice offers a pure pediatric environment. A pediatric trained … Dr. Manisha "Mona" Dave

MOM-APPROVED DOCTOR – DFW CHILD MAGAZINE

Manisha “Mona” Harpavat Dave, MD Pediatric Gastroenterologist Digestive Health & Nutrition in Children Diplomate Certification in Pediatric Gastroenterology Diplomate, American Board of Pediatrics Awards and Honors          Scientific Research Plano Office 6300 W Parker Rd, Bldg 2, Suite 424 Plano, TX 75093 Phone: … Dr. Mona Dave

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Celiac disease (CD, Celiac Sprue, Gluten Intolerance) in children tends to have digestive disorders that may result in growth problems. Celiac disease prevents the body from absorbing essential nutrients (nutrient malabsorption) resulting in diarrhea, weight loss, abdominal distention, failure to thrive and muscle wasting. Celiac disease in teenagers may not occur … Celiac Disease

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Digestive Health & Nutrition

Manisha “Mona” Dave, MD
Pediatric Gastroenterologist
Texas Digestive Disease Consultants
 

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