Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) in Pediatrics (S5:E9)

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common liver disease in the United States, affecting almost 10% of all children. Also referred to as fatty liver disease, NAFLD is actually a range of diseases that all begin when excess fat gets deposited in the liver, most significantly impacting our patients with obesity. Primary care providers can provide critical support to families making significant lifestyle changes as part of their treatment.

Listen to pediatric experts discuss nonalcoholic fatty liver disease

In this episode, Shikha Sundaram, MD, joins us to discuss the clinical presentation and treatment of NAFLD.

Dr. Sundaram is the Medical Director of the Pediatric Liver Transplant Program at Children’s Hospital Colorado and is Associate Professor of Pediatrics, Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition at the University of Colorado School of Medicine.

In this episode, our experts discuss:

• Prevalence of fatty liver disease at Children’s Colorado
• Physiology of NAFLD and its connection with obesity
• Spectrum of fatty liver diseases and what’s known about disease progression
• Screening recommendations for children at risk of fatty liver disease
• ALT, family history and other factors to consider in the diagnosis of NAFLD
• Fatty liver disease in children with other obesity-related comorbidities
• How to discuss NAFLD and weight loss with families
• Treatment strategies for fatty liver disease

Liver transplant at Children’s Colorado

The Pediatric Liver Transplant Program at Children’s Colorado offers a specialized program devoted to the care of children who require liver transplantation. Our multidisciplinary team cares for kids and families from diagnosis to transplant and all the way through long-term post-transplant care. We are ranked #1 in the nation for GI surgery by U.S. News and World Report.

Refer a patient to Children's Colorado.