New Delhi, August 4th, 2026:  India is grappling with a rapidly escalating liver health crisis, as new epidemiological data reveals that fatty liver disease now affects hundreds of millions of people nationwide, with prevalence rates climbing sharply over the past decade. The findings, drawn from a review of recent global and national health research, are prompting experts to call for immediate action on screening and prevention.

Fatty liver disease now more precisely classified as MASLD (metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease) is estimated to affect between 16% and 32% of India's population, amounting to roughly 120 million people.

The numbers become even more concerning on closer inspection. A pooled analysis covering 50 studies and over 26,000 participants found that 38.6% of Indian adults have NAFLD (non-alcoholic fatty liver disease), a figure that jumps to 52.8% among high-risk groups such as those with diabetes or obesity.

Children are not exempt from this trend. The same analysis found a pooled prevalence of 35.4% among children overall, rising to 63.4% among children who are obese.

The disease shows no respect for geography or occupation. Research points to elevated risk among India's large IT workforce, where sedentary work culture and lifestyle factors play a significant role. Regional studies from Karnataka and northern India further reveal comparably high prevalence across both urban and rural populations — with diabetes, central obesity, and insulin resistance emerging as the common threads tying these cases together.

Despite the scale of the problem, a nationwide survey of hepatologists published earlier this year uncovered significant gaps in real-world diagnostic and management practices, a stark reminder of how far clinical response still lags behind the size of the crisis.

At the heart of the issue lies a common set of drivers: India's rising rates of type 2 diabetes, obesity, hypertension, and sedentary living. Public health experts see this overlap as an opportunity rather than just a challenge, screening for one condition often reveals risk for the other, meaning lifestyle-focused prevention strategies could help address multiple health issues simultaneously.

With projections indicating continued growth in fatty liver disease burden over the next decade, researchers stress that the opportunity for meaningful course correction is shrinking. Strengthened data collection, standardized diagnostic criteria, and expanded community-based screening,  particularly in underserved and rural areas are being flagged as urgent priorities for policymakers and health systems alike.