Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease presented by Surbhi Sood, APD, PhD candidat
Surbhi provides a clear overview of metabolic dysfunction–associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), a condition now affecting roughly one in three Australian adults. She outlines the evolution of terminology from NAFLD to MASLD and explains its strong links with excess weight, type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome, and cardiometabolic risk. She highlights the diagnostic pathway—including the practical and accessible FIB-4 score—and reinforces the need for early identification given MASLD’s association with fibrosis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma.
Lifestyle management is emphasised as first-line management. The Mediterranean diet is presented as having the most evidence to support improved liver fat, metabolic parameters, and long-term risk, however other diets eg. lower-carb, DASH are also beneficial. Physical activity, adequate and good quality sleep, behavioural support, and social connection are all important in the overall management.
Learn about:
- Lifestyle intervention—diet, physical activity, sleep, and behavioural support—is the cornerstone of MASLD management, and benefits occur even without weight loss.
- The Mediterranean diet has the strongest evidence base, but flexible, culturally relevant dietary patterns (DASH, low-carb) are also beneficial.
- Dietitians play an important role in early detection and risk stratification, including the practical use of tools like the FIB-4 score, and in delivering sustainable, patient-centred care.
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