Clinicians may say MASLD, metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease. Older notes may say NAFLD, or non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Both names refer to extra fat in the liver linked with metabolic health, in people who do not have another main cause such as heavy alcohol use or a viral infection.
The name you may hear
The newer name, MASLD, puts the focus on metabolic health: blood sugar, blood pressure, cholesterol, and weight-related health. Some people have inflammation or scarring as well. Only a clinician who knows your results can say which description fits you.
How it is usually found
It is often found when blood tests are mildly unexpected or when an ultrasound was done for another reason. Many people feel well at that point. Feeling well does not mean follow-up is optional. Your clinician decides what follow-up you need.
Topics clinicians often discuss
Visits often cover diabetes care, blood pressure, cholesterol, physical activity, alcohol, and medicines or supplements. Advice is personal. A change that helps one person can be unsafe for another, especially if the liver is already scarred.
There is no single food you must cut out because of a webpage. Ask what is realistic for you, and ask for a referral to a dietitian if that service is available where you live.
What this page cannot tell you
It cannot tell you your stage, whether you need a medicine, or how often you need an ultrasound. Those choices depend on scarring, other illnesses, and provincial pathways. Bring this page’s questions to your own appointment, and use the Canadian Liver Foundation if you want another public explanation.