Fast Foods and Sugary Drinks Fueling Rise in Fatty Liver Disease – Expert Warns

Nigerians’ love for quick, tasty meals like shawarma, instant noodles, sugary drinks, and packaged snacks may be silently harming their health. Health experts are sounding the alarm over the growing cases of fatty liver disease linked to these everyday foods.

Speaking with PUNCH Healthwise, Dr. Ganiyat Oyeleke, a consultant gastroenterologist and liver specialist at Lagos University Teaching Hospital, explained that the liver, which is vital for filtering toxins, digesting food, and managing nutrients, is taking a heavy hit from unhealthy eating habits.

She pointed out that many of the meals people enjoy today are loaded with refined sugar, trans fats, salt, and artificial preservatives ingredients that put the liver under constant pressure.

Dr. Oyeleke said this damage happens slowly and quietly. Most people don’t notice any warning signs until the condition becomes serious. By the time symptoms like yellowing of the eyes or skin appear, the liver may already be badly affected.

She emphasized that a condition called MASLD, previously known as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, is now becoming more common in Nigeria.

This disease starts when fat builds up in the liver due to unhealthy eating, not alcohol. If ignored, it can progress to liver scarring, known as fibrosis, and later to cirrhosis, a dangerous and often irreversible condition.

According to Dr. Oyeleke, the easy access to fast foods and the rush of modern life have led many people to pick convenience over nutrition. However, these choices are coming at a cost. She noted that deep-fried foods and processed snacks, while tasty and filling, are full of harmful substances that the liver struggles to handle.

She also warned against thinking that only hepatitis or alcohol causes liver disease. In today’s world, poor diet is becoming a bigger threat. The situation is made worse by a lack of exercise, which allows fat to accumulate more easily in the body and the liver.

Nutritionist Odunayo Babatunde added her voice to the warning. She explained that fatty liver disease is no longer just a problem for heavy drinkers.

Even those who don’t touch alcohol can suffer from it if they eat poorly. She described how a diet filled with sugary foods, salty snacks, and trans fats can cause inflammation in the liver and increase insulin resistance, which worsens liver damage.

Both experts agree that Nigerians need to become more mindful of what they eat every day. Dr. Oyeleke encouraged a return to natural, unprocessed foods, saying that many local fruits and vegetables can help protect and heal the liver.

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She also advised reducing alcohol consumption, including local drinks like palm wine and ogogoro, and avoiding herbal mixtures that are not properly regulated.

Babatunde encouraged people to cook more at home and plan their meals instead of constantly turning to fast food. She believes this small change can have a big effect on liver health. 

Eating home-prepared food made with fresh ingredients gives the liver a break from fighting off the harmful substances found in packaged and fast foods.

One of the biggest concerns raised by both professionals is that fatty liver disease often develops without obvious symptoms. People may feel fine for years while silent damage continues inside.

That’s why regular medical checkups, including liver function tests and abdominal scans, are important—even for those who feel healthy.

Dr. Oyeleke stressed the need for awareness, saying that food can either be medicine or poison, depending on the choices people make daily. The experts believe that with better food choices and a more active lifestyle, Nigerians can reduce the rising cases of liver disease.

In a country where fast food is becoming the go-to option for busy individuals, this warning serves as a wake-up call. Making small, informed decisions today, like eating cleaner and drinking less sugar, could save lives tomorrow.

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