10-12 Mumbai working professionals aged 25-35 diagnosed with fatty liver in a week

Fatty liver disease is no longer limited to those who consume junk food or alcohol. While it is traditionally linked to the accumulation of excess fat in liver cells due to obesity, type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol, and sugar-heavy diets, a new pattern is emerging.

In 2026, experts are seeing a rise in fatty liver among young professionals because of chronic stress, genetics, certain medications, and modern lifestyle habits. Long working hours, irregular meals, lack of exercise, and constant digital exposure are silently affecting liver health, even in individuals who appear otherwise healthy.

Experts advise adhering to a well-balanced lifestyle, de-stressing by practicing yoga and meditation, getting a sound sleep of 8-9 hours per day, cutting down on screen time, avoiding late-night meals, exercising daily, and taking regular breaks while working. It is important to prioritise liver health.

Fatty liver, also called as nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) or Metabolically Dysregulated-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease  (MASLD)  disease happens when excess fat tends to build up in the liver cells without obvious symptoms in the early stages. Fatty liver is commonly linked to factors such as obesity, insulin resistance, alcohol, high cholesterol, genetics, and unhealthy eating habits. Unfortunately,  now, youngsters who have high-pressure jobs are also struggling with fatty liver. "In a week, 10-12  young working professionals aged 25-35 are diagnosed with fatty liver who are not overweight or have alcohol, but are under constant stress.  Stress, constant deadlines, long working hours, lack of sleep, and excessive screen time can raise the cortisol levels, which impact the metabolism and promote fat buildup in the liver. Poor sleep and late eating habits reduce the liver’s ability to repair and detoxify itself.  This combination silently increases the risk of fatty liver even in otherwise healthy individuals. Symptoms are silent, while some may experience fatigue, mild abdominal discomfort, or unexplained weight changes. Hence, the spike in cases of fatty liver disease needs timely attention. Over time, this can progress to inflammation, fibrosis, and even cirrhosis if left unchecked,” said Dr Roy Patankar, Director, Gastrointestinal & Laparoscopic Surgeon, and Director Zen Multispeciality Hospital, Chembur, Mumbai.

Dr. Roy Patankar further added, “ The young professionals will be advised FibroScan as it provides a non-invasive way to assess liver fat and stiffness, helping in early diagnosis before serious damage occurs. Remember that early fatty liver is often reversible. It will be imperative for everyone to de-stress by opting for relaxation techniques like yoga and meditation, sleep well every day for 8-9 hours, eat a balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables, bid adieu to junk, oily, canned, and processed foods, and even regular exercise can help reduce liver fat. Regular health check-ups and screening can prevent complications and support long-term liver health.”

 “Fatty liver is no longer just a lifestyle disease associated with diet or alcohol. It is now seen in many young professionals dealing with heavy workload, causing stress, meetings, deadlines, stress of completing the targets, job insecurity, unclear boundaries, and expectations at work. In a month, 5-7 young professionals aged 25-35 who visit me are getting detected with fatty liver due to constant stress, irregular routines, and lack of sleep, are quietly disrupting metabolism and leading to fat accumulation in the liver. The symptoms can be weight loss changes, bloating and digestive discomfort, abdominal pain, and tiredness.  They are advised to eat a nutritious diet, de-stress, take regular breaks, exercise, cut down on screen time, and sleep well. Timely management of fatty liver is key to improving the quality of life of the patient,” said Dr. Ameet Mandot, Director – Hepatology, Gleneagles Hospital, Parel.