This Metabolic Disease Has Increased 143% Since 1990 & It's Not Diabetes
Key takeaways
- But there's another condition quietly affecting more than 1 in 6 people worldwide: metabolic dysfunction–associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD).
- A new global analysis published in The Lancet Gastroenterology & Hepatology finds that cases of MASLD have surged by 143% since 1990, reaching an estimated 1.3 billion people in 2023.
- MASLD is the updated term for what was previously called nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).
Why this matters: practical guidance grounded in recent research or expert insight.
Author: Molly Knudsen, M.S., RDNMay 06, 2026Registered Dietitian Nutritionist By Molly Knudsen, M.S., RDNRegistered Dietitian Nutritionist Molly Knudsen, M.S., RDN is a Registered Dietician Nutritionist with a bachelor’s degree in nutrition from Texas Christian University and a master’s in nutrition interventions, communication, and behavior change from Tufts University. She lives in Newport Beach, California, and enjoys connecting people to the food they eat and how it influences health and wellbeing.Image by Jose Coello / StocksyMay 06, 2026When we talk about metabolic health, most of the focus lands on blood sugar or heart disease. But there's another condition quietly affecting more than 1 in 6 people worldwide: metabolic dysfunction–associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD).
A new global analysis published in The Lancet Gastroenterology & Hepatology finds that cases of MASLD have surged by 143% since 1990, reaching an estimated 1.3 billion people in 2023. These numbers are expected to increase even more by 2050. Here's what you need to know about MASLD, the key findings of this new report, and ways to improve your liver and metabolic health.
MASLD is the updated term for what was previously called nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). The name change, adopted in 2023, reflects a shift toward defining the condition by what it is (a metabolic disorder).