Nagaland has a strong tradition of community living, farming, walking, and home-cooked meals. However, evolving lifestyles and food habits across the state have resulted in doctors seeing a steady rise in fatty liver disease among both young and middle-aged adults in Nagaland, reflecting trends being observed across the country.

Fatty liver occurs when excess fat builds up in the liver. The condition is usually linked to obesity, stress, high cholesterol, junk food and a lack of physical activity. In many cases, people may not even realise they have the disease because it usually does not cause symptoms in early stages. Specialists at Gurugram-based Medanta- The Medicity, named India’s Best Hospital by Newsweek in 2026, warned that if left unchecked, fatty liver can progress to serious complications such as liver inflammation, liver scarring (cirrhosis), liver failure, and even liver cancer.

Dr. Rajesh Puri, Vice Chairman, Interventional Gastroenterology at Medanta Gurugram said, “Many people believe liver disease only affects those who consume alcohol, but that is no longer the case. We are seeing a growing number of patients with fatty liver who do not drink at all. Sedentary lifestyles, weight gain, diabetes, and unhealthy diets are major contributors. The challenge is that fatty liver often remains silent until significant damage has already occurred.”

Fatty liver disease has emerged as one of the most common liver disorders in India, with an estimated 4 in 10 adults affected by the condition[1]. Medanta doctors noted that fatty liver is no longer confined to metropolitan cities and is increasingly being detected in smaller towns and emerging urban centres. They added that its growing prevalence is closely linked to rising rates of obesity, diabetes, high cholesterol, and other lifestyle-related health conditions.

Noting that the condition can often be reversed, especially when detected early, Dr. Puri encouraged people to adopt simple lifestyle measures such as maintaining a healthy weight, eating balanced meals, reducing sugary foods and drinks, and staying physically active, all of which can make a significant difference to liver health.

Urging people to be mindful of the increasing consumption of processed foods and sedentary habits, Dr. Hitesh Panchal, Associate Consultant, Gastroenterology at Medanta Gurugram stated that Nagaland’s traditional way of life has many elements that support good health. He said, “The key is to retain those habits while adapting to modern lifestyles responsibly. Regular health check-ups are important because fatty liver is often discovered during routine blood tests or ultrasound scans. Early diagnosis gives people the opportunity to prevent long-term complications.”

Dr. Panchal also advised patients of diabetes, high blood pressure, or high cholesterol to ensure these conditions are properly managed, as they can increase the risk of fatty liver disease.

[1] https://journals.lww.com/ghep/fulltext/2024/04010/indian_literature_review_on_nonalcoholic_fatty.2.aspx