India, April 16 -- Fatty liver is no longer a disease that is seen in alcohol drinkers. More patients are being diagnosed with fatty liver disease who have never so much as had a glass of alcohol in their lifetime. So much so that according to the National Medical Journal of India, the prevalence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in India has been reported to be 9% to 53%.

To better understand this phenomenon, HT Lifestyle spoke with Dr Manoj Kolhe, a consultant gastroenterologist at Manipal Hospital, Baner, Pune. According to Dr Manoj, the prevalence of liver disease in those who have never had alcohol is known as metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD).

The gastroenterologist stressed, "MAFLD is now know...