The epidemic levels of obesity and diabetes mellitus (DM) in the Middle Eastern countries has led to the increasing incidence of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), resulting in non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a leading cause of advanced liver disease which is characterized by excessive liver fat in the absence of other causes. Overweight/obesity, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and metabolic syndrome are the most important risk factors.
As these conditions are prevalent in the Middle Eastern regions, the morbidity, as well as mortality associated with NAFLD/NASH, is likely to increase in the coming decades. With this alarming scenario, there is an urgent need to address the factors contributing to the disease burden in the Middle East region. Source: The Saudi Journal of Gastroenterology
