Weight management key to preventing fatty liver disease
Jakarta - Weight management in obese patients is a key treatment focus to prevent the metabolic disorder of fatty liver disease, known as Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD).
Professor Rino Alvani Gani, an internal medicine specialist and consultant in gastroenterology and hepatology at Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital, stated that individuals living with obesity, central obesity, type 2 diabetes, or abnormal liver function test results need to be vigilant about MASLD. “They also need to consult healthcare professionals to conduct risk assessments and early detection of liver health,” he said in a press statement received in Jakarta on Friday.
Rino explained that fatty liver disease should be understood as a spectrum. In the early stages, this condition can involve fat accumulation in the liver. “If the risk factors are not managed properly, some patients may progress to MASH, a more severe form involving inflammation and liver cell damage,” he said.
If obesity is not managed well, MASLD can develop into Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatohepatitis (MASH), a more severe form with inflammation and liver cell damage. In the long term, this condition can increase the risk of fibrosis, cirrhosis, and even liver cancer. Rino explained that MASLD must also be seen as part of a broader cardiometabolic risk, as cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in patients with MASLD. “Therefore, early detection and comprehensive management of risk factors are very important,” he emphasised.
Meanwhile, Dr. Dicky Levenus Tahapary, an internal medicine specialist and consultant in endocrinology, metabolism, and diabetes at Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital, added that obesity needs to be understood as a chronic medical condition requiring comprehensive treatment. He said the goal of obesity management is not just to reduce body weight, but also to support quality weight loss and long-term metabolic health.
“Obesity is a complex medical condition and cannot be simplified as merely a matter of willpower. Excess body fat, especially visceral fat, can trigger insulin resistance, inflammation, and metabolic disorders that impact various organs, including the liver, heart, and blood vessels,” he said.
To support this, the Indonesian Ministry of Health and Novo Nordisk Indonesia affirmed the importance of education, early detection, and management of risk factors, particularly obesity, to help prevent the progression of fatty liver disease with GLP-1 RA-based therapy innovation through the momentum of Global Fatty Liver Day 2026.
Dr. Siti Nadia Tarmizi, Director of Non-Communicable Diseases at the Indonesian Ministry of Health, urged the public to understand the risk of fatty liver triggered by obesity by conducting early detection to maintain liver health. She said that as the prevalence of obesity increases in Indonesia, the risk of fatty liver and various other chronic diseases also rises. “Obesity is even known as the ‘mother of all chronic diseases’ because it can trigger various health complications. Therefore, we urge the public to be more aware of their risk factors and conduct early detection to maintain liver health,” said Nadia.
Dr. Riyanny Meisha Tarliman, Associate Director of Medical & Regulatory at Novo Nordisk Indonesia, expressed hope that through GLP-1 RA innovation for weight management and education via the NovoCare.id website, more people can understand the risks of obesity, including its link to fatty liver, and take proactive steps to consult healthcare professionals.