More people need liver transplants as obesity increases

The number of liver transplants performed due to obesity-related complications has tripled in the past seven years, according to figures from Erasmus MC, the largest liver transplant center in the Netherlands.

In 2017, only a handful of patients required a liver transplant each year due to obesity-related liver damage. By 2024, that number had risen to 50. The increase highlights the growing impact of obesity on liver health, experts say.

“People often associate obesity with heart attacks and diabetes,” said Dr. Harry Janssen of Erasmus MC. “But liver fat accumulation can eventually lead to the need for a transplant.”

Liver transplants are considered a last resort, and not all patients are eligible due to the long waiting lists for donor livers, said Mariël Croon, director of the MDL Fonds, a foundation focused on digestive health.

“A liver transplant is a drastic procedure for the patient and not always possible,” Croon said. “The waiting list for a donor liver is long, which makes prevention even more critical.”

Approximately 4 million people in the Netherlands have some degree of liver fat accumulation, often without realizing it, according to the MDL Fonds. In about 4 percent of the population—roughly 700,000 people—the condition progresses to an active liver inflammation known as non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH).

NASH significantly increases the risk of liver cirrhosis, a severe and irreversible form of liver damage, as well as liver cancer. Alcohol consumption further exacerbates the risk, experts warn.

Despite the alarming rise in cases, Croon emphasized that early intervention can make a difference. “There is good news,” she said. “The liver has a remarkable ability to heal itself, but only if action is taken in time. It’s an incredible organ, and people should take care of it.”