80% of fatty liver disease patients in Korea don't drink alcohol

One in three Koreans suffers from fatty liver disease. Fatty liver disease is a condition that occurs when large amounts of fat accumulate in liver cells. Despite having multiple causes, fatty liver disease is considered to be caused mostly by excessive alcohol intake.

However, latest research shows that 80% of patients with the disease in Korea do not drink alcohol. In fact the number of patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease has doubled in the last 6 years.
Experts now say that the biggest factor in causing the disease is carbohydrates.

Compared to people who eat less carbohydrates, men and women who intake a lot of carbohydrates are 1.7 times and 3.8 times more likely to suffer from fatty livers, respectively.

The fatty liver disease is prevalent among Koreans because Korean people tend to eat a lot of carbohydrates. It's important to reduce the intake of other kinds of carbohydrates such as food made of flour and noodles.

Obesity is another factor that can lead to non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.
This explains why fatty liver disease is being observed among many parents in their 40s and 50s and among overweight children as well.
If left unattended, fatty liver disease can develop into fatal diseases such as cirrhosis and even liver cancer.
To prevent this, doctors advise citizens to exercise for at least 10 minutes a day, watch their eating habits and visit the doctor for regular check-ups.