Fatty Liver Disease and Food Insecurity: Excess in Scarcity.

Food insecurity is associated with increased overall mortality and health care utilization among patients with NAFLD and advanced fibrosis. Individuals from low-income households with diabetes and obesity are particularly susceptible. Trends in prevalence of NAFLD mirror that of obesity and other cardiometabolic risk factors. Several studies in both adult and adolescent population have described an independent association between food insecurity and NAFLD. Concentrated efforts to lessen food insecurity may improve health outcomes in this group of patients. High-risk patients with NAFLD should be linked with local and federal supplemental food assistance programs. Programs directed at addressing NAFLD-related mortality and morbidity should focus on improving food quality, access to these foods, and promote healthy eating habits.