Recenty, I was diagnosed with having fatty deposits in my liver.  The constant dull and sharp pains in my right side were said to be the result of an enlarged liver.  I've had various blood tests, a CT scan and a HIDA scan and my doctor(s) feel there is nothing else causing my discomfort.  As such, the recommendation for me is to lose weight.  I am significantly overweight but not in the usual rolly-polly way.  I'm short and stout but my body fat is evenly distributed throughout my body.  A gastroenterologist was quite surprised that I had a BMI of 40 due to the way I look.  But truth of the matter is, I'm definintely overweight and fat is now or has been accumlating in my liver.  The fat has to go, especially in my liver.  Over time, fat in your liver can lead to scirrosus (sp?).  I'm not a drinker, yet I do smoke and don't eat all that healthy.  In the past two months, I have changed my diet drastically.  I eat mostly Lean Pockets, Lean Cuisine and Weight Watcher prepared meals.  I've lost a total of 7.4 lbs but managing to keep the loss at 5 lbs.  So, I read an online article from the Mayo Clinic that suggested clinical trials have shown a potential for Alli (Orlistat).  I'm concerned about my health as losing the weight is extremely important to the long-term health of my liver.  Oddly enought gastric bypass or lap band procedures are not necessarily the answer as rapid weight loss can add to the increased fat deposits in my liver.  I'm hoping Alli will help.  If by chance anyone else is dealing with fatty liver issues, I'd be greatful for their insight.

Hi Ljeske,

Welcome to the board! Your condition is much more common than most people realize. You are right that losing weight is the best treatment for you. This plan can definitely help you succeed with reaching your goals. Here is a good article about fatty liver http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=46582.

I wish you lots of success,

Betty Kovacs, MS, RD

Thanks for the article.  You're right about the commonality of this disease, the scary thing is ... people can be accumulating fat in their liver and not even know it.  I think that was my case, and not until the side aches and burning/stretching sensations came about did I seek medical attention.  I'm concerned and I'm hoping the Alli (Orlistat) program can help.  I know weight loss is possible, but it's unbelievably hard.  I have just as many good eating habits as bad ones!

 I started taking the tablets yesterday and didn't experience any effects as my food intake was relatively low fat.  After taking the tablet, you definitely wonder what will happen based on what you're about to eat! 

 I can't imagine that eating all that pre-prepared stuff is good for your liver or losing weight. That stuff is loaded with sodium, empty sugars, preservatives, and other unnecissary chemicals. Fast food isn't good for anyone.  

Hi Mangum2,

mangum2:

 I can't imagine that eating all that pre-prepared stuff is good for your liver or losing weight. That stuff is loaded with sodium, empty sugars, preservatives, and other unnecissary chemicals. Fast food isn't good for anyone.

 I do agree, however it's better than burgers and fries!  I do eat prepared meals at work and at home when I'm too burned out or late to spend time slicing, dicing and grilling!

 I think the accumulation of fat build-up in my liver was the result of a high-fat, high-protein diet a few years ago.  I loved the protein diet, but any diet only works for me up to about 20 lbs of weight loss.  I generally hit the skids and start back and at eating what I want, when I want.  I've also been an on-again, off-again member of Weight Watchers over the years, so I have learned to make better choices.  I just choose not to.  No one's fault but my own and my ancestors for the genetically weak metabolism! 

 So today, my diet has consisted of a meatball Lean Pocket, SF Jello, SF Choc Pudding and three pieces of beef jerky and two cups of coffee w/FF half-n-half.  Far better than what I'm used to eating...trust me!

 Tonight, I'm making sticky rice with grilled chicken and red peppers and a little hot/spicy peanut thai sauce. 

Hi Ijeske,

I, too, have been diagnosed with the same problem.  It can also elevate your liver enzymes altering  liver functioning and  predispose you to liver cancer.  I agree that is it better  to change your diet as you (and I have done) even if it means eating processed diet foods. It is imperative to lose the weight.  You are smart to be using sugar free products as well as fat free products as all unused sugar in the body is converted to fat (alli does not affect this pathway; only ingested fat).  Always cut back on sugar anyway possible.  In my house we only use splenda blend sugar...even for my kids...as it cuts the sugar content in half by using the natural sugar alcohols of splenda which has none of the problems that the other artificial sweetners have.

Good luck,

Lare

Hi Lare,

I try not to take any one side on artificial sweeteners. There is a lot of controversy surrounding the safety of most of them and I believe that more research is needed to determine what is true. I need to point out that there is absolutely nothing natural about Splenda. I know that it states that it's made from sugar, but the chemical process that it goes through, including the addition of chlorine, makes it nothing like sugar. Sugar is made from carbon, hyrdrogen, and oxygen. Sucralose, the artificial sweetener in Splenda, is made by taking sugar and treating it with trityl chloride, acetic anhydride, hydrogen chlorine, thionyl chloride, and methanol in the presence of dimethylformamide, 4-methylmorpholine, toluene, methyl isobutyl ketone, acetic acid, benzyltriethlyammonium chloride, and sodium methoxide. It's important that people realize this.

Thanks for sharing,

Betty Kovacs, MS, RD

The "joke" in my house when asking for artificial sweetners is "One horn or two".

Charlie

 Keys for patients with liver disease are:
1) To find the treatment that suitable for your disease condition.
2) To believe there really a treatment in the world accorded with your need.

Some helpful info may be found in the site http://www.liver-health.info/, including fatty liver.
Hope everyone has a healthy liver.