Fatty liver disease (FLD) is increasingly recognized as one of the most common chronic liver diseases in China. It affects nearly 20 percent of the mainland's urbanites, says Jia Jidong, who leads the Beijing Friendship Hospital's liver-research center.

FLD can be either alcoholic or nonalcoholic. Both conditions can progress to end-stage liver disease characterized by fibrosis, cirrhosis and the eventual development of liver cancer, he says. More than 300,000 people die from liver diseases a year on the mainland, official statistics show.

FLD risk factors include obesity, old age, high blood fat levels, diabetes, and too much consumption of meat and alcohol, experts say. Intervention highlights light foods, no alcohol and more exercise in addition to lifelong use of medications in case of relapse.

China Daily-Reuters