Hyderabad records 40.9% fatty liver prevalence, above national average: Lancet study
HYDERABAD: Nearly two out of five adults in the city are living with fatty liver disease, a condition now largely driven by lifestyle factors rather than alcohol.
At 40.9%, Hyderabad’s prevalence of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is slightly higher than the national average of 38.9%, according to a major pan-India study published in The Lancet Regional Health. The findings highlight the rapid spread of metabolic disorders in urban India. The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research led the study, which covered more than 10,000 adults across 27 cities, as reported by TOI.
Men show higher prevalence than women
In Hyderabad, 46% of men and 36.2% of women have fatty liver disease. Doctors attribute the surge to sedentary lifestyles, irregular eating habits, high consumption of processed food, and a rise in metabolic disorders linked to urban living.
Among major metros, Delhi recorded the highest prevalence at 41.3%, followed by Chennai at 41.2%. Bengaluru reported 40.6%, placing Hyderabad among the worst-affected large cities.
Obesity, diabetes linked to severe outcomes
Obesity emerged as the strongest risk factor. Individuals with class-2 obesity face nearly 14 times higher risk of developing MASLD than those with normal weight.
Doctors also flagged “lean fatty liver,” in which individuals with normal body weight develop the disease due to hidden metabolic risks such as diabetes or excess abdominal fat. This trend challenges the belief that only overweight people are affected.
Doctors say cases of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the most common primary liver cancer, are rising. Weekly diagnoses have nearly doubled in recent years.
“HCC results from cirrhosis (scarring of the liver), alcohol abuse, viral infections like hepatitis B and C, and increasingly from fatty liver diseases linked to obesity and diabetes,” said Mukta Srinivasulu, former director of MNJ Cancer Hospital.
Anand Kulkarni, senior consultant hepatologist at AIG Hospitals, said nearly 40–50% of liver cancer patients are relatively young.
“Many patients come late, often with large tumours and sudden severe abdominal pain. MASLD, obesity, and diabetes are closely linked, while alcohol remains another significant cause,” he added.
