Even lean people can have fatty liver, says ILBS director Dr S.K. Sarin

Is fatty liver disease something that affects only the overweight? Dr S.K. Sarin, a noted expert, called this belief wrong at the Times Network India Health Summit & Awards 2026 in New Delhi. Dr Sarin is the director of the Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences (ILBS). According to him, even people who look lean can be at serious risk of fatty liver.

Dr Sarin said that anyone who thinks fatty liver affects only obese or heavily built people is completely mistaken. At the event, he made several important points about liver health.

Dr Sarin said a survey of 6,200 people was conducted in Delhi in 2024. It found fat deposits in the livers of even those who looked extremely thin. A normal or low body weight, he said, does not mean the liver is fully healthy.

According to Dr Sarin, around 40 per cent of people in India are likely to have fat accumulating in the liver. He therefore advised that every person get their liver health checked at least once a year, on their birthday.

Dr Sarin said eating habits play a major role in worsening liver health. Eating too many calories, too much sugar and too many carbohydrates causes fat to build up in the liver, he said. Sweet foods and a habit of overeating make health problems serious. He said merely losing weight is not enough, and big changes in daily diet and lifestyle are needed.

Speaking about tea and coffee, Dr Sarin said many people now consume them in large quantities to get relief from work stress and fatigue. In his view, coffee can be beneficial for the liver to some extent, but it should not be treated as a medicine or a way to chase away tiredness. Coffee should always be drunk for the pleasure of its taste. He added that taking a short walk is a good way to reduce stress, rather than sitting continuously while working.

Dr Sarin also expressed deep concern about the habit of eating late at night. He said a heavy late-night meal is very harmful for the liver and the whole body. He advised that dinner should be light and that the body should get enough time to digest food before sleep.