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MASLD and MASH: Two liver diseases you should know about

A woman jogs down a wooded path in autumn.

Oct. 2, 2025—It's scary to think that you could have a potentially serious disease without even knowing it. But with metabolic dysfunction-associated liver disease (MASLD), it's not just possible—it's common.

Up to 30% of Americans—about 100 million people—have MASLD, reports the American College of Gastroenterology (ACG). It's the most common type of liver disease in children, and about 18% of pregnant people have it.

But many people who have the condition don't know it. According to the American Liver Foundation, MASLD usually has no symptoms. Sometimes, people with the disease report feeling tired for no reason, weakness, or abdominal pain or discomfort. But those complaints can also be chalked up to a number of other health problems.

What is MASLD?

MASLD is a disease that develops when too much fat accumulates in your liver. This fat buildup is not caused by drinking too much alcohol. It's normal for your liver to have some fat—ideally, less than 10%. But more than that can cause MASLD. In fact, until 2023, MASLD used to be called non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

MASLD is usually caused by one or more of these health conditions:

Diabetes.
Insulin resistance (also called prediabetes).
Overweight and obesity.
High blood pressure.
High cholesterol and triglycerides.
Poor diet.
Rapid weight loss.

People with MASLD are at risk for heart disease and diabetes, warns the ACG. And, in about 20% of cases, MASLD can develop into an advanced form: metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH).

MASH is a serious condition that can cause liver inflammation and scarring. Over time, scarring can become severe and irreversible. This is called cirrhosis.

Once MASH develops, symptoms such as yellowing of the skin and eyes (jaundice), intense itching, mental confusion, and fluid accumulation in the belly and ankles can appear.

How to help your liver

If you suspect a problem with your liver, talk with your doctor. There are many ways you can slow down and even reverse the progression of MASLD and MASH.

Whether or not you have MASLD or MASH, you can boost your liver health by:

Losing weight if you need to.
Keeping your cholesterol, triglycerides and blood pressure within normal levels.
Controlling your blood sugar.
Eating a diet rich in lean protein, whole grains, fresh fruits and vegetables, and low-fat dairy.
Steering clear of highly processed foods.
Getting some kind of physical activity every day.
Avoiding alcohol.

Ask your doctor about liver screening. And test your knowledge about liver health with our quiz.

Sources

American Academy of Family Physicians. "New Year, New Name: NAFLD Becomes MASLD." https://www.aafp.org/pubs/afp/afp-community-blog/entry/new-year-new-name-nafld-becomes-masld.html.
American College of Gastroenterology. "Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD)." https://gi.org/topics/steatotic-liver-disease-masld.
American Liver Foundation. "Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD)." https://liverfoundation.org/liver-diseases/fatty-liver-disease/nonalcoholic-fatty-liver-disease-nafld.