{"id":2088,"date":"2025-08-05T03:19:54","date_gmt":"2025-08-05T03:19:54","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/tezgyan.com\/index.php\/2025\/08\/05\/is-junk-food-fueling-fatty-liver-in-children-experts-sound-the-alarm-health-and-fitness-news\/"},"modified":"2025-08-05T03:19:54","modified_gmt":"2025-08-05T03:19:54","slug":"is-junk-food-fueling-fatty-liver-in-children-experts-sound-the-alarm-health-and-fitness-news","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tezgyan.com\/index.php\/2025\/08\/05\/is-junk-food-fueling-fatty-liver-in-children-experts-sound-the-alarm-health-and-fitness-news\/","title":{"rendered":"Is Junk Food Fueling Fatty Liver In Children? Experts Sound the Alarm | Health and Fitness News"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div id=\"story-9484710\">\n<p><span class=\"jsx-730caffcddfd709\">Last Updated:<\/span><time class=\"jsx-730caffcddfd709\">August 05, 2025, 08:41 IST<\/time><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"asubttl-9484710\" class=\"jsx-e71bd712c195739a jsx-1889212840 asubttl-schema\">Fatty liver disease is no longer a distant adult concern. It\u2019s real, it&#8217;s rising, and it&#8217;s affecting children today, many of whom may not even show symptoms<\/h2>\n<figure class=\"jsx-e71bd712c195739a jsx-1889212840 amimg\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Fatty liver in children: With the rise of ultra-processed diets, sedentary lifestyles, and early exposure to sugary and fatty foods, health experts are raising red flags about a silent epidemic in the making.\" title=\"Fatty liver in children: With the rise of ultra-processed diets, sedentary lifestyles, and early exposure to sugary and fatty foods, health experts are raising red flags about a silent epidemic in the making.\" src=\"https:\/\/images.news18.com\/ibnlive\/uploads\/2021\/07\/1627283897_news18_logo-1200x800.jpg?impolicy=website&amp;width=400&amp;height=225\" loading=\"eager\" fetchpriority=\"high\" class=\"jsx-e71bd712c195739a jsx-1889212840\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Fatty liver in children: With the rise of ultra-processed diets, sedentary lifestyles, and early exposure to sugary and fatty foods, health experts are raising red flags about a silent epidemic in the making.<\/p>\n<\/figure>\n<p id=\"0\" class=\"story_para_0\">Fatty liver disease, once seen primarily in overweight adults is increasingly being diagnosed in children. With the rise of ultra-processed diets, sedentary lifestyles, and early exposure to sugary and fatty foods, health experts are raising red flags about a silent epidemic in the making.<\/p>\n<p id=\"1\" class=\"story_para_1\">The culprits? Instant noodles, chips, sugary beverages, packaged snacks, and fast food, everyday items that have become staples in the diets of many children today.<\/p>\n<p id=\"2\" class=\"story_para_2\">\u201cWe mostly associate fatty liver with adults, but it\u2019s increasingly showing up in children, and of course, food habits are at the heart of it,&#8221; says Mugdha Pradhan, Functional Nutritionist and Founder, iThrive. \u201cHighly processed and packaged foods such as chips, biscuits, sugary drinks, and instant noodles are loaded with refined flours, seed oils, excessive sugar, preservatives, and additives. These not just overload the liver but also spike insulin and trigger fat storage in places where it doesn\u2019t belong, including the liver.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p id=\"3\" class=\"story_para_3\">According to Dr. Sakshi Karkra, Head of Pediatric Gastroenterology &amp; Hepatology, Artemis Hospitals, the condition has become so common that non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is now one of the fastest-growing liver issues in children. \u201cFatty liver is when there is too much fat in the liver, which makes it harder for the organ to do its job. Chips, burgers, fries, and sugary drinks are all junk foods that are high in bad fats, sugar, and calories but low in nutrients,&#8221; she says. \u201cIf you eat these foods often, you may gain weight, become insulin resistant, and store more fat in your liver.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p id=\"4\" class=\"story_para_4\">But the concern doesn\u2019t stop at weight gain. Pradhan highlights how a child\u2019s liver is still developing and far less capable of handling the toxic burden that comes from modern food habits. \u201cAdd in sedentary routines and micronutrient gaps, and you have the perfect storm.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p id=\"5\" class=\"story_para_5\">Children today are often exposed to unhealthy food habits from a young age. Frequent consumption of low-nutrient processed items not only taxes the liver but may lead to long-term health concerns if left unaddressed. Dr. Karkra warns, \u201cIf you don\u2019t treat it right away, fatty liver can lead to liver inflammation, scarring (fibrosis), and even long-term liver damage.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p id=\"6\" class=\"story_para_6\"><strong>Turning the Tide with Early Intervention<\/strong><\/p>\n<p id=\"7\" class=\"story_para_7\">The good news? Fatty liver in children is reversible especially if caught early. \u201cIt\u2019s not just about saying \u2018no\u2019 to junk, it\u2019s also about bringing real food back onto the plate,&#8221; says Pradhan. She advocates for a return to whole grains, healthy fats, clean protein, and nutrient-rich meals to support the liver\u2019s natural detox pathways and prevent damage. \u201cThe earlier we intervene, the better chance we give to kids of true, long-lasting health.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p id=\"8\" class=\"story_para_8\">Dr. Karkra echoes this, emphasizing the importance of balanced meals, daily physical activity, and conscious limitation of processed foods. \u201cEncouraging children to eat better and move more can greatly reduce their risk of developing fatty liver,&#8221; she says.<\/p>\n<p id=\"9\" class=\"story_para_9\">Fatty liver disease is no longer a distant adult concern. It\u2019s real, it\u2019s rising, and it\u2019s affecting children today, many of whom may not even show symptoms. But with awareness, expert guidance, and a return to clean eating habits, parents and caregivers can help reverse the trend and protect their children\u2019s liver health for life.<\/p>\n<div class=\"jsx-95088aad1b3c53cd atawrap\">\n<div class=\"jsx-95088aad1b3c53cd atadetailwrp\">\n<div class=\"jsx-95088aad1b3c53cd ataname\"><span class=\"jsx-95088aad1b3c53cd atthumb\"><\/p>\n<figure class=\"jsx-95088aad1b3c53cd\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"authorimg\" src=\"https:\/\/images.news18.com\/ibnlive\/uploads\/2023\/11\/swati-chaturvedi-2023-11-311a7f6229417d5d5693180448c9311a-scaled.jpg?impolicy=website&amp;width=0&amp;height=0\" class=\"jsx-95088aad1b3c53cd\"\/><\/figure>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"jsx-95088aad1b3c53cd attitle\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.news18.com\/byline\/swati-chaturvedi-22519.html\" class=\"jsx-95088aad1b3c53cd atamail\">Swati Chaturvedi<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Swati Chaturvedi, a seasoned media and journalism aficionado with over 10 years of expertise, is not just a storyteller; she&#8217;s a weaver of wit and wisdom in the digital landscape. As a key figure in News18 Engl&#8230;<span class=\"jsx-95088aad1b3c53cd aurpdebtn\">Read More<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Swati Chaturvedi, a seasoned media and journalism aficionado with over 10 years of expertise, is not just a storyteller; she&#8217;s a weaver of wit and wisdom in the digital landscape. As a key figure in News18 Engl&#8230;<!-- --> <span class=\"jsx-95088aad1b3c53cd aurpdebtn\">Read More<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"jsx-e71bd712c195739a jsx-1889212840 artcta\">\n<div style=\"font-family:Inter;font-size:17px;line-height:29px\"><span data-olk-copy-source=\"MessageBody\">The News18 Lifestyle section brings you the latest on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.news18.com\/lifestyle\/health-and-fitness\/\">health<\/a>,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.news18.com\/topics\/fashion\/\">fashion<\/a>,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.news18.com\/lifestyle\/travel\/\">travel<\/a>,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.news18.com\/lifestyle\/food\/\">food<\/a>, and culture \u2014 with wellness tips, celebrity style, travel inspiration, and recipes. <\/span>Also Download the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/onelink.to\/eng-article-eop\">News18 App<\/a>\u00a0to stay updated!<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><span class=\"jsx-e71bd712c195739a jsx-1889212840 coral-count-custom\">view comments<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"coral-wrap\" class=\"jsx-9278cad478d6a6dc \">\n<div class=\"jsx-9278cad478d6a6dc coral-cont\">\n<div class=\"jsx-9278cad478d6a6dc coltoptxt\">Disclaimer: Comments reflect users\u2019 views, not News18\u2019s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.news18.com\/disclaimer\/\" class=\"jsx-9278cad478d6a6dc\">Terms of Use<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.news18.com\/privacy_policy\/\" class=\"jsx-9278cad478d6a6dc\">Privacy Policy<\/a>.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><span class=\"jsx-e71bd712c195739a jsx-1889212840 rmbtn news18_read_more\">Read More<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.news18.com\/lifestyle\/health-and-fitness\/is-junk-food-fueling-fatty-liver-in-children-experts-sound-the-alarm-9484710.html\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Last Updated:August 05, 2025, 08:41 IST Fatty liver disease is no longer a distant adult concern. It\u2019s real, it&#8217;s rising, and it&#8217;s affecting children today, many of whom may not even show symptoms Fatty liver in children: With the rise of ultra-processed diets, sedentary lifestyles, and early exposure to sugary and fatty foods, health experts&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2089,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2088","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-lifestyle"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/tezgyan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2088","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/tezgyan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/tezgyan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tezgyan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tezgyan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2088"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/tezgyan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2088\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tezgyan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2089"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/tezgyan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2088"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tezgyan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2088"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tezgyan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2088"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}