With nearly half of regional people over the age of sixty affected, recent studies suggest that Australia is slowly crawling into an epidemic of liver disease.

Even though the full scale of the problem is not yet fully known, researchers estimate that the epidemic has been spreading quietly for at least 30 years.

So, what could be the reason?

Alcohol? Studies say it’s not likely. Viral hepatitis? Mercifully, this has been on the decline for some time now.

Instead, experts are pointing fingers at “metabolic factors” – notably obesity and diabetes.


The country’s persistently poor diet and lack of exercise are catching up with Aussies in the form of non-alcoholic liver disease (NAFLD). This condition often goes undiagnosed and is one of the leading causes of primary liver cancer and cirrhosis (scarring).

Researchers from Melbourne have examined the predominance of liver disease in a number of regional areas.

The study, which involved more than 700 people from the Goulburn Valley, found that at least 36 per cent of Victorians live with NAFLD – and among its population over the age of 60, around 45 per cent are affected.

The figures were based on the subjects’ results on the Fatty Liver Index, which uses pathology data combined with Body Mass Index (BMI) and other measurements.

Previously, the part of the population affected by NAFLD was believed to be around 20 to 30 per cent, or about 5.5 million Australians.

Professor Stuart Roberts, the head of Hepatology and a consultant gastroenterologist at The Alfred hospital, stated, “Rates of liver disease have been based on estimates developed from overseas data, and little is known of the true prevalence of fatty liver disease in Australia”.

“More research is needed to discover the prevalence of the disease in metropolitan areas, which may be higher than current estimates,” he added.

Last year, Professor Roberts co-wrote a scientific article, titled “Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease burden: Australia, 2019–2030”, that predicted annual deaths from NAFLD liver disease could almost double over the next decade, increasing from 1900 cases in 2019 to 3500 deaths in 2030.

Studies also show that these deaths are all preventable.


NAFLD is caused by an accumulation of fat in the livers of people who drink little or no alcohol, and is the most commonly known form of chronic liver disease.

Though it’s usually asymptomatic, some people will suffer excessive fatigue and pain or discomfort in the upper-right abdomen.

It’s easy to feel helpless against age, obesity, insulin resistance, and diabetes, but we can do our best to fight by adopting a healthy diet and doing daily exercise.

Richard Wylie, chief executive of the Liver Foundation, said, “In some ways, we’ve become complacent about the trajectory of obesity-related diseases such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes; however, fatty liver disease and its direct links to cirrhosis and liver cancer may well be the tipping point the community needs to start taking their overall lifestyle more seriously.”

Experts recommend going for a regular walk as one of the best forms of exercise to help avoid this disease.