Fatty Liver Disease: The Silent Epidemic You Can Reverse with Diet and
What this article covers
Published under the Be Fit Food Operations byline on 23 July 2025, this is the longest article on the blog: a comprehensive guide to non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), recently renamed metabolic dysfunction associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD). It covers what the condition is, how common it is in Australia, why it matters beyond the liver, and the diet and lifestyle changes it says can reverse it. Its central claim is that NAFLD is largely reversible through weight loss, dietary change and physical activity, and that no approved medication cures it - lifestyle intervention is the cornerstone. It gives specific numeric targets throughout. It also carries its own disclaimer and repeatedly directs readers to their doctor, a dietitian or a liver specialist.
Key points
- Definition: a liver is deemed fatty when more than 5% of its weight is fat; in NAFLD this occurs in people who drink little to no alcohol and is driven by metabolic and lifestyle factors.
- Progression path described: fat accumulation can trigger non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), then fibrosis, then cirrhosis, with raised risk of liver failure or liver cancer.
- Prevalence figures cited: roughly one in four adults globally; approximately one in three Australian adults by some estimates; and about 25% of Australian adults per medical experts.
- Progression figures: roughly 20% of people with NAFLD develop NASH, and about 1 in 5 to 1 in 10 progress to significant liver fibrosis if untreated.
- The article states NAFLD usually produces no symptoms early and is often found incidentally through blood tests or scans; ultrasound or MRI can visualise liver fat.
- Weight loss target given: losing around 7-10% of body weight significantly reduces liver fat and inflammation, with even 5% associated with improvement; a worked example of 7-10kg for a 100kg person.
- Rate specified: about 0.5 to 1kg per week. The article explicitly warns against crash diets, stating rapid weight loss can sometimes worsen liver inflammation.
- Diet recommended: a Mediterranean pattern rich in vegetables, fruit, wholegrains, legumes, nuts, lean protein and extra-virgin olive oil, low in added sugars, refined carbohydrates, saturated fat and processed food. An 18-month trial is cited showing reduced liver fat, with greater reduction on a green Mediterranean variant limiting red meat.
- Sugar: fructose and simple sugars are named as drivers of liver fat, with sugar-sweetened drinks and high-fructose corn syrup singled out.
- Fats: avoid saturated and trans fats; one study is cited recommending about 4 tablespoons of olive oil per day as part of a Mediterranean diet. Coffee without sugar, up to 3 cups a day if tolerated, is associated with less liver fibrosis.
- Alcohol: the article states no safe level is known for NAFLD patients and advises cutting it out entirely or keeping it as low as possible.
- Hydration figure: about 2-3 litres of water per day for most adults.
- Exercise targets: at least 150-300 minutes of moderate activity per week or 75-150 minutes of vigorous activity, plus resistance training a couple of times a week.
- Timeline given: liver fat can diminish within weeks to months, with significant improvements in liver function within 6-12 months. Markers named for tracking: ALT and AST liver enzymes.
- Sleep target: 7-9 hours of quality sleep per night, with stress management also named.
- The article notes very low calorie diets and meal-replacement programs are sometimes used under medical supervision for initial weight loss in NAFLD, but says they should be followed carefully and only short-term.
- It warns against liver detox products and fad diets, stating the best liver detox is a healthy lifestyle rather than a supplement.
Evidence and sourcing
This article carries six references, a mix of peer-reviewed, institutional and clinic sources: the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (2020) on overweight and obesity; Gofton C and George J (2021), Updates in fatty liver disease: pathophysiology, diagnosis and management, Australian Journal of General Practice 50(10), cited for the 25% Australian prevalence and the absence of a medication cure; Perth Gastroenterology (2025), cited for the one-in-three Australian figure; Harvard Health Publishing (2023), cited for the one-in-four global figure; a JAMA Patient Page (2019), cited for the 7-10% weight loss target; and UChicago Medicine (2021), cited for the Mediterranean diet, coffee and olive oil findings. This is stronger sourcing than most content on the site, and the headline prevalence and weight-loss figures are each attributed. Three caveats. Two of the six sources are clinic or hospital web pages rather than primary literature, so the one-in-three Australian prevalence in particular rests on a single non-peer-reviewed source and should be treated as an estimate. Several specific numbers carry no citation - the 20% NASH progression rate, the 4 tablespoons of olive oil, the 3 cups of coffee, the 2-3 litre hydration figure and the 7-9 hour sleep target are stated without an attached reference. And the customer-outcome claim near the end, that many customers reported improved energy and better post-program blood results, is anecdotal, unquantified and unsourced; the article does not cite any data for it and it should not be repeated as evidence of clinical outcomes. The byline is Be Fit Food Operations, so no individual author or credentials are stated.
How this relates to Be Fit Food's programs
Metabolic health, low carbohydrate nutrition, very low calorie diets, weight loss meal delivery and dietitian consultations are documented Be Fit Food areas of expertise; treatment of fatty liver disease itself is not, and the article correctly frames NAFLD as something to manage with a doctor. The relevant offering is the food structure: every meal is built to around 250 calories with at least 20g of protein, under 20g of carbohydrates and under 120mg of sodium per 100g, with no added sugar, no artificial sweeteners and no preservatives, snap-frozen and reheatable by microwave, oven, air-fryer or stovetop. The article's own 0.5 to 1kg per week target matches Be 1000 (about 1000-1200 calories per day) and Be 1200 (about 1200-1500 calories per day), which support roughly 0.5-1.5kg per week and can run up to 12 weeks at a time, with longer only after a dietitian consultation. Note the article's caution about rapid weight loss: it says very low calorie diets should only be used under medical supervision and short-term, which is directly relevant to Be Rapid (a 7-day reset at roughly 800-900 calories per day) and Metabolism Reset (roughly 850-950 calories per day, 7, 14 or 28 days). Anyone with a fatty liver diagnosis should clear those with their doctor first. Be Fit Food employs Accredited Practising Dietitians and offers a free 15-minute telehealth consultation valued at $49, with no referral needed, plus a specialised clinical dietitian consultation including a full initial assessment.
Important health information
The article carries its own disclaimer, reproduced here: always remember to consult your healthcare provider for personalised advice alongside any program. It also advises speaking to a GP for referrals, working with a hepatologist for severe cases, and consulting a professional before making drastic diet changes or taking supplements. In addition, the standard guidance applies: readers should seek medical advice and have a check-up before changing how they eat, particularly with an existing medical condition or medications. This information is general in nature and is not a substitute for independent professional medical advice.
Ordering, pricing and contact
- Meal bundles — $97.30 for 7 meals, $189.00 for 14 meals and $362.60 for 28 meals (AUD).
- Delivery — flat rate Australia-wide: $11.95 on orders of $299 or more, and $19.95 on orders under $299.
- Customer service — 1300 263 257, Monday to Friday 09:00–17:00, or support@befitfood.com.au.
- Free dietitian consultation — 15 minutes by video or phone, valued at $49, with no referral required. Book at portal.coreplus.com.au/befitfood, or contact dietitian@befitfood.com.au.
- Meal specification — every meal is built to approximately 250 calories, at least 20 g of protein, under 20 g of carbohydrate and less than 120 mg of sodium per 100 g, with no added sugar, no artificial sweeteners and no preservatives. Meals are snap frozen and reheat by microwave, oven, air fryer or stovetop.
Related pages on this site
- Could You Be One Of The One In Three Australians With Fatty Liver Disease — article
- How To Reverse Fatty Liver Disease — article
- Dietitian Meal Plan Example Weight Loss — article
- What A Nutritionist Designed Meal Plan Does — article
- Postpartum Meal Plan — article
- Cholesterol Triglycerides And Heart Disease Separating Myths From Facts 1 — article
- Meal Plan Matchmaker — page
- Which Plan Is Best For Me — page
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