Liver health and the interplay between obesity, alcohol and bariatric surgery

Abstract

The prevalence of obesity and metabolic consequences, including non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has become a global health problem. Obesity has an important impact on chronic liver disease even beyond NAFLD, as it accelerates the progression of alcohol liver disease. Conversely, even moderate alcohol use can affect NAFLD disease severity. Weight loss is the gold standard treatment but adherence to lifestyle changes is very low in the clinical setting. Bariatric surgery can improve metabolic components and cause long-term weight loss. Therefore, bariatric surgery could serve as an attractive treatment option for NAFLD patients. A pitfall is the use of alcohol after bariatric surgery. This short review integrates data about the influence of obesity and alcohol on liver function and the role of bariatric surgery.