The British Liver Trust is calling for every person in the UK to consider their liver health and take a simple quiz to assess their risk during January after adults across the UK admit to making unhealthy lifestyle choices in 2020.
Over a million adults in the UK may currently have the early stages of liver disease but are unaware and have no symptoms. Worryingly, rising rates of obesity means that 150,000 children could also have non-alcohol related fatty liver disease.
January is often a time that people take stock after the Christmas period but this year it is even more important as the numbers at risk have also increased during the Covid pandemic. Many people have increased their alcohol consumption and gained weight during lockdown – the two biggest risk factors for developing liver disease. 28% of people admitted to drinking more during lockdown. 42% have gained weight during the past year.
The British Liver Trust is calling for the nation to improve their liver health and find out more about the risk factors during National Love Your Liver month.
The charity has issued the stark warning after one in five adults are thought to be at risk due to either being overweight or drinking too much alcohol. 4000 people in 2020 missed a free liver scan as the charities Love Your Liver Roadshow had to be cancelled.
An analysis of previous years data indicates 650 of those would have shown signs of possible liver damage.
The British Liver Trust is urging people to take their ‘At Risk’ screening tool: https://www.britishlivertrust.org.uk/love-your-liver-screener
