Almost 2bn to be affected by metabolic liver disease by 2050, study suggests

MASLD affects one in six people now and is projected to rise because of population growth, obesity and high blood sugar

Metabolic liver disease will affect 1.8 billion people worldwide by 2050, driven by rising obesity and blood sugar levels, a study suggests.

Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), previously known as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), is one of the most prevalent and rapidly growing liver conditions globally, according to the research.

There are now 1.3 billion people worldwide living with MASLD, the latest estimates suggest, a 143% increase in just three decades. About one in six people – 16% – are affected.

The findings, from the global burden of diseases, injuries, and risk factors study (GBD), were published in the Lancet Gastroenterology & Hepatology journal.