Fatty Liver Disease| Diagnosis & Treatment

How is fatty liver disease diagnosed?

A childs doctor will usually make a diagnosis of NAFLD based on a combination of medical history, physical examination and blood tests. Children who are obese and have higher-than-normal levels of certain liver enzymes on routine blood tests are more likely to have NAFLD.


In some cases, the doctor may order a needle biopsy to look for signs of fat buildup and scarring in the liver. This will tell whether a child has simple NAFLD or NASH.

If a child is diagnosed with NAFLD, doctors will monitor the child’s liver by several means, including periodic:

  • Ultrasounds.
  • Physical exams.

How is fatty liver disease treated?

There is no simple cure for NAFLD. The focus of treatment is to prevent the disease from getting worse. This includes:

  • encouraging healthy eating and weight loss
  • maintaining tight control of blood sugar levels for children with diabetes
  • monitoring the child for complications or progression from NAFLD to more severe NASH
