Fatty Liver Disease Gets New Names and New Treatments: What You Need to Know | Research

The takeaway

NAFLD and NASH have been renamed to MASLD and MASH to reduce stigma and improve diagnosis, with semaglutide and other new drugs offering the first effective treatments.

Most common chronic liver disease
MASLD (formerly NAFLD) is now recognized as the most prevalent chronic liver condition worldwide, with new treatments finally available

What the researchers found

New MASLD/MASH terminology improves diagnostic clarity, while semaglutide and newer agents offer the first effective pharmacological treatments for this common liver condition.

Why it matters

MASLD is now the most common chronic liver disease worldwide. The name change and new treatments represent a paradigm shift in how this condition is understood, diagnosed, and treated.

The numbers in context

MASLD affects up to 20% of UK adults. Cirrhosis and HCC incidence expected to rise significantly by 2030. Reviews GLP-1 RAs and THR-beta agonists as treatments.

How the study worked

Review article covering the evolution of fatty liver disease nomenclature, pathophysiology, and emerging pharmacological treatments.

Who was studied

Adults with MASLD/MASH

What this study cannot tell us

Review article — does not present new data. Treatment landscape is rapidly evolving and some agents are still in clinical trials.

How to read the evidence

Review of current nomenclature and emerging treatments — provides useful clinical overview based on published evidence.

When this study was published

Published in 2025, reflecting the latest nomenclature and treatment advances.

The bigger picture

The convergence of better disease understanding, reduced stigma through renaming, and effective new drugs marks a turning point in the fight against metabolic liver disease.

Questions still open

Will the MASLD/MASH terminology be universally adopted across all clinical settings?
How will new treatments affect the need for liver transplantation in coming decades?

Common questions

Why was NAFLD renamed to MASLD?

The old name "non-alcoholic fatty liver disease" was problematic: it defined the disease by what it was NOT (not caused by alcohol) rather than what it IS (caused by metabolic dysfunction). The new name MASLD is more accurate and reduces the stigma associated with liver disease.

Are there finally treatments for fatty liver disease?

Yes. Semaglutide has received accelerated approval for MASH (the inflammatory form), and other drugs including tirzepatide are in advanced clinical trials. This is the first time effective pharmacological treatments are available for this common condition.

Read the original research

New Names, New Drugs, Better Outcomes in Steatotic Liver Disease.

British journal of hospital medicine (London, England : 2005), 86(8), 1-18

View on PubMed ↗Publisher’s paper ↗

Citation

Peverelle, Matthew; Mbelle, Mzamo; Joshi, Deepak. (2025). New Names, New Drugs, Better Outcomes in Steatotic Liver Disease.. British journal of hospital medicine (London, England : 2005), 86(8), 1-18. https://doi.org/10.12968/hmed.2024.0655