When the liver is overburdened and consequently unable to metabolise nutrients and fats properly it slows down metabolism leading to more serious health issues as well as weight gain and lethargy.
What we see as a little weight gain, gas, or constipation, could actually point toward more serious health conditions. Excess abdominal fat has frequently been associated with liver disease, which tends to have few or no symptoms. The lack of symptoms makes liver disease difficult to diagnose.
Losing weight may be especially difficult for people with fatty liver disease due to differences in their metabolism. But nonetheless, some can succeed and doing so improves liver health, according to studies presented at the AASLD Liver Meeting last week in Boston.
Myth: It's always good to gain weight when you have cirrhosis. Fact: If your weight gain is from eating too many calories, this can lead to fat deposits on your liver, which can cause further injury. If your weight gain is due to fluid retention, it may be a sign that your liver is deteriorating.
Poor appetite and weight loss. Because the liver plays a key role in the digestive system, cirrhosis and cancer in the liver can affect how much you eat, and you may lose weight.
Fat and toxins accumulate in the liver over time, causing the metabolism to slow down rather significantly. The liver becomes clogged and is unable to process sugars and fats as efficiently, causing fat to accumulate in other parts of the body and leading to overall weight gain.
Ascites (fluid in the belly) Cirrhosis for Patients
Another problem caused by high pressure in the veins of the liver is ascites. Fluid leaks out into the belly and it begins to fill it up. This can make your abdomen enlarge like a balloon filled with water. Your legs can get swollen too.
When you gain too much weight, it doesn't just accumulate on the outside of your body. Fat may start to deposit inside, too, within organs such as the liver. This condition is called fatty liver disease. Liver cells, or hepatocytes, fill with large fat droplets and can become stressed, damaged or scarred—some even die.
Myth #2: Liver cleanses are a safe and healthy way to lose weight. Many liver detoxification products are also sold as weight loss cleanses. However, there are no clinical data to support the efficacy of these cleanses.
French fries, wafers, burgers, and pizzas do no good to your liver. These food items are high in saturated fat or trans-fat content and are difficult to digest. In other words, your liver needs to work hard to process these food items.
The lowdown
Liver disease can have many negative effects on bodily functions, including bowel movements. The best way to assist your bowel movements is to focus on lifestyle changes that improve liver function. These include exercise, weight loss, and minimizing alcohol consumption, among others.
Most people with liver disease report abdominal pain. Pain in your liver itself can feel like a dull throbbing pain or a stabbing sensation in your right upper abdomen just under your ribs.
Stage 1: Beginning of Liver Damage
People with hepatitis often have no symptoms, so they may not seek medical attention. Mild symptoms at this stage can include abdominal pain and swelling.
Stage 1: Inflammation
In the early stages of liver disease, the liver will become swollen or inflamed as the body's natural response to injury. Liver inflammation, or hepatitis, can also occur when there are more toxins in the blood than the liver is able to manage.
Ascites is fluid buildup in the belly (abdominal) cavity caused by fluid leaks from the surface of the liver and intestine. Ascites from liver disease often occurs with other liver disease symptoms, such as portal hypertension. Symptoms of ascites may include a swollen belly.
This may be due to menstruation, heart or kidney failure, preeclampsia, or medicines you take. A rapid weight gain may be a sign of dangerous fluid retention. If you quit smoking, you might gain weight. Most people who quit smoking gain 4 to 10 pounds (2 to 4.5 kilograms) in the first 6 months after quitting.
Rapid and unexpected weight gain is also a possible sign of liver cancer. This usually occurs due to the rapid build-up of fluid in the abdomen (ascites).
Life Expectancy With Fatty Liver Diseases
People stay healthy despite suffering from the disease following a normal routine. The life expectancy with fatty liver disease decreases from 3 to 4 years because such patients develop other chronic diseases such as cardiovascular or diabetes.
Nausea and upset stomach are common early symptoms of liver disease, but as your liver's ability to eliminate toxins decreases, your digestive distress will likely increase. Ongoing nausea is a reaction to excess waste products in the body, and unexplained vomiting is often linked to liver problems.
Acute liver failure can develop quickly in an otherwise healthy person, and it is life-threatening. If you or someone you know suddenly develops a yellowing of the eyes or skin; tenderness in the upper abdomen; or any unusual changes in mental state, personality or behavior, seek medical attention right away.
As liver failure progresses, you may experience some or all of the following symptoms: Jaundice, or yellow eyes and skin. Confusion or other mental difficulties. Swelling in the belly, arms or legs.