📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Vanshu7002
Health
Bihar launches statewide drive to detect fatty liver disease amid rising cases
✍️ India Today
🗓 05 Nov 2026, 11:03 AM
👁 9
The Bihar health department has begun a systematic screening program to identify fatty liver disease, a condition affecting roughly one‑third of Indians.
Patna, Bihar – The state health ministry announced the rollout of a coordinated screening initiative aimed at detecting fatty liver disease across Bihar. Health officials say the programme will deploy mobile clinics and set up temporary camps in both urban and rural districts to reach a broad segment of the population.
National health surveys estimate that about one in three Indians live with fatty liver, a condition linked to obesity, excessive alcohol intake and poor dietary habits. In Bihar, rising cases of non‑communicable diseases and a largely agrarian lifestyle have prompted authorities to act before complications such as cirrhosis become widespread.
The screening protocol combines ultrasound imaging with basic blood tests to assess liver fat content. Target groups include adults over 30, individuals with diabetes or hypertension, and those reporting abdominal discomfort. The campaign is slated to run for six months, with periodic data reviews to map prevalence patterns.
A senior health official emphasized that early detection can significantly reduce long‑term health costs and improve quality of life. "Identifying the disease at an asymptomatic stage allows us to intervene with lifestyle counseling and medical management," the official said.
Officials hope the initiative will raise public awareness about liver health and encourage preventive measures such as balanced diets and regular exercise, thereby curbing the silent spread of fatty liver in the state.
National health surveys estimate that about one in three Indians live with fatty liver, a condition linked to obesity, excessive alcohol intake and poor dietary habits. In Bihar, rising cases of non‑communicable diseases and a largely agrarian lifestyle have prompted authorities to act before complications such as cirrhosis become widespread.
The screening protocol combines ultrasound imaging with basic blood tests to assess liver fat content. Target groups include adults over 30, individuals with diabetes or hypertension, and those reporting abdominal discomfort. The campaign is slated to run for six months, with periodic data reviews to map prevalence patterns.
A senior health official emphasized that early detection can significantly reduce long‑term health costs and improve quality of life. "Identifying the disease at an asymptomatic stage allows us to intervene with lifestyle counseling and medical management," the official said.
Officials hope the initiative will raise public awareness about liver health and encourage preventive measures such as balanced diets and regular exercise, thereby curbing the silent spread of fatty liver in the state.