October 2026 · National Liver Awareness Month
You can have fatty liver disease and feel perfectly fine. Many people have no symptoms at all while fat builds up in the liver. This October, during National Liver Awareness Month, Dr. Ralph Peterson of MacArthur Gastroenterology Inc. (Mac GI) has one request for every patient: at your next appointment, ask whether you should be checked for fatty liver disease.
The American Liver Foundation recognizes October as National Liver Awareness Month, a time to spotlight liver conditions that often go unnoticed until they are advanced. Fatty liver disease belongs near the top of that list. It is the most common chronic liver condition in the United States, affecting roughly one in four adults, according to the NIDDK.
What Is Fatty Liver Disease?
Fatty liver develops when excess fat collects inside liver cells. When it is linked to conditions such as type 2 diabetes or excess weight, doctors call it metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease, or MASLD. Our guide What Is MASLD? explains why the name changed and what the diagnosis covers.
Type 2 diabetes and obesity are the strongest risk factors. High blood pressure, high triglycerides, and abnormal cholesterol often appear alongside them. If any of these are part of your health history, your liver deserves its own conversation with your provider.
How Fatty Liver Screening Works at Mac GI
Screening starts with your health history and risk factors. Your provider may order blood work and, when appropriate, a noninvasive liver scan. Mac GI offers a state-of-the-art, FDA-cleared liver assessment using advanced ultrasound elastography technology. It measures liver stiffness, which can signal scarring, along with liver fat, in a single office visit with no needles or sedation.
The goal is to learn whether you need treatment or closer follow-up before symptoms appear. You can read how our advanced liver scan works, or visit our fatty liver screening page to see whether you are a good candidate.
Why Early Detection Matters
Finding a problem early gives you time to act. A diagnosis can guide changes in food choices, activity, and alcohol use, along with treatment of related conditions like diabetes or high blood pressure. With appropriate care, liver fat and inflammation can improve, and some scarring may improve as well. Early detection also identifies the patients who need specialist follow-up.
Four Everyday Habits That Support Your Liver
1. Eat for consistency
Healthy eating can start small. Swap a daily sugary drink for water, add vegetables to dinner, or serve yourself a smaller portion. Choose whole fruits, beans, whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats more often, and cut back on foods high in saturated fat. A routine you can keep will help your liver more than a strict plan you drop after two weeks.
If excess weight is part of your picture, our physician-supervised weight management program pairs medical oversight with practical nutrition support, and it works hand in hand with liver care.
2. Be honest about alcohol
Alcohol adds to liver damage when fatty liver disease is already present. Tell your provider how much and how often you drink, so together you can decide whether cutting back or stopping makes sense for you. People with significant liver scarring should avoid alcohol completely.
3. Move your body
Exercise helps your liver even when the scale holds steady. A walk after lunch, dancing in the kitchen, swimming, or cycling all count. Work toward 150 minutes of moderate activity each week, the target the American Heart Association recommends for adults, at a pace that fits your health. If that feels out of reach, start with a short walk and build from there.
4. Make room for rest and lower stress
Rest and stress relief support your overall well-being. A few quiet minutes, deep breathing, time with someone you trust, or a hobby you enjoy all help. Keep a regular bedtime and a routine you can maintain. Caring for yourself should fit into your life.
Don’t Wait for Symptoms
If you have diabetes, excess weight, or other metabolic risk factors, or you have been told you have fatty liver, call MacArthur Gastroenterology Inc. at (510) 562-7467 ext 1. Ask about a liver health evaluation and whether fatty liver screening is right for you. Let’s find out what your liver needs and build a plan you can follow.
Book a Liver ScanLearn About Screening
MacArthur Gastroenterology Inc. (Mac GI), 10520 MacArthur Blvd., Oakland, CA 94605
Frequently Asked Questions
When is National Liver Awareness Month?
National Liver Awareness Month takes place every October in the United States. The American Liver Foundation uses the month to encourage people to learn their risk for liver disease and talk with a provider about screening.
Can I have fatty liver disease without any symptoms?
Yes. Fatty liver disease usually causes no noticeable symptoms in its early stages. Many people learn they have it only through blood work, imaging, or a screening visit, which is why asking your provider matters even when you feel well.
Who should ask about fatty liver screening?
Adults with type 2 diabetes, prediabetes, excess weight, high blood pressure, or abnormal cholesterol or triglycerides should ask. So should anyone who has been told they have elevated liver enzymes or fat in the liver on a previous scan.
Does the liver scan at Mac GI hurt?
No. The scan is noninvasive and uses ultrasound elastography, so there are no needles and no sedation. It is done in our Oakland office during a single visit.
Can fatty liver disease improve?
Often, yes. With appropriate care, liver fat and inflammation can improve, and some scarring may improve as well. Results depend on the stage of disease and on changes to diet, activity, alcohol use, and related conditions.
Will insurance cover fatty liver screening?
Many insurance plans may cover the exam when it is medically appropriate. Coverage varies by plan, so our staff can help you confirm your benefits before your visit.
Is this article a substitute for medical advice?
No. This content is educational and general in nature. Talk with your physician about your individual risk factors and whether screening is right for you.
References
- American Liver Foundation, October Is National Liver Awareness and Liver Cancer Month
- NIDDK, Definition & Facts of NAFLD & NASH
- AASLD Practice Guidance on the Clinical Assessment and Management of NAFLD, Hepatology 2023, via PubMed
- American Heart Association, Recommendations for Physical Activity in Adults
Dr. Ralph Peterson brings more than 40 years of medical experience to MacArthur Gastroenterology, including over 30 years specializing in gastroenterology and internal medicine. For more than 12 years, his practice has focused on treating viral hepatitis, achieving a cure rate above 90% in Hepatitis B and C cases. He is a sought-after speaker and medical presenter on colorectal cancer and on the treatment and cure of Hepatitis B and C.
Dr. Peterson has served on the advisory boards of leading pharmaceutical companies, including Gilead, and is also Medical Director of uFirst Health Partners, a nonprofit organization dedicated to fatty liver disease awareness and education. He also leads research and development at NEXT2ME, LLC, where he invented the 1440 Vibrational Energetic Spray supplement line.
His work has taken him well beyond the clinic, including service as a medical team leader in Sierra Leone, evaluating medical needs across multiple provinces, and as a volunteer physician in Bohol, Philippines, training local providers in the treatment of gastrointestinal disease and hepatitis.
A former Master's Track & Field world record holder in the 4x100 relay, Dr. Peterson has been recognized by the American Cancer Society, 100 Black Men of America, 100 Black Men of the Bay Area, and the Alameda County Board of Supervisors for his outstanding service to men's health.
- Ralph L. Peterson, MD
- Ralph L. Peterson, MD
- Ralph L. Peterson, MD
- Ralph L. Peterson, MD
