Obesity and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: Disparate associations among asian populations

obesity is a global epidemic contributing to an increas-ing prevalence of obesity-related systemic disorders, including nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. The rising prevalence of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis(NASh) will in the near future lead to end-stage liver disease in a large cohort of patients with NASh-related cirrhosis and NASh is predicted to be a leading indication for liver transplantation in the coming decade. however, the prevalence of obesity and the progression of hepatic histological damage associated with NASh exhibit sig-nificant ethnic disparities. Despite a significantly lower body mass index and lower rates of obesity compared to other ethnic groups, Asians continue to demonstrate a significant prevalence of hypertension, diabetes, met-abolic syndrome and NASh. Ethnic disparities in central adiposity and visceral fat distribution have been hy-pothesized to contribute to these ethnic disparities. The current review focuses on the epidemiology of obesity and NASh among Asian populations.