2026 Two Sessions Health Forum | Fatty Liver Screening Enters the Era of Precision Testing

The prevalence of metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) among Chinese adults is 29.6% and continues to rise year by year. However, the general public still holds misconceptions about fatty liver disease — such as "only overweight people get it" and "if transaminase levels are normal and there are no symptoms, it's nothing to worry about."

On March 6, the People's Daily Health Client hosted a special live broadcast under its 2026 "Two Sessions Health Forum" series, titled "Fatty Liver Screening Enters the Era of Precision Testing." The program invited Professor Fan Jiangao, Director of the Department of Gastroenterology at Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, and Professor Rao Huiying, Chief Physician at Peking University People's Hospital and Director of the Peking University Institute of Hepatology. The two experts engaged in in-depth discussions on topics including misconceptions about fatty liver disease, precision testing, and scientific management, educating the public on professional knowledge of fatty liver prevention and control, and providing scientific guidance for clinical diagnosis and treatment as well as public health prevention and control.

Highlights from the Live Broadcast

Professor Fan Jiangao noted that fatty liver disease is not simply "an obesity disease caused by overeating." Its onset is related to multiple factors including metabolism and genetics, and it is often asymptomatic in the early stages. Traditional ultrasound can only detect fat accumulation, whereas today non-invasive serological tests such as the "Fatty Liver Duo (CK18-M30/M65)" can precisely identify hepatocyte inflammatory injury, distinguish simple fatty liver from metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), assess disease activity, and monitor treatment response.

"Combined testing of ALT and the Fatty Liver Duo can screen more MASH patients and reduce missed diagnoses. For patients with abnormal liver function and/or Fatty Liver Duo results, lifestyle intervention should serve as the foundation, with regular follow-up checks of liver function, Fatty Liver Duo, ultrasound, and other indicators, and drug intervention when necessary. By optimizing tiered management, precise allocation of medical resources can be achieved," added Professor Rao Huiying.

Professor Rao Huiying emphasized that populations such as those with obesity and diabetes are high-risk groups requiring regular precision screening. Fatty liver disease itself is not frightening, but its continuous progression can accumulate damage across various organs and tissues, exacerbating the development of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and cancer. The prevalence of fatty liver disease among adolescents is gradually rising, and its management differs significantly from that of adults, requiring even greater attention. Insufficient public health awareness and low adherence to lifestyle interventions are the main challenges in fatty liver prevention and control, and the essence of managing fatty liver disease is managing overall metabolic health.

Professor Fan Jiangao further stated that precision management of fatty liver disease requires a "combined approach" of imaging, serology, and liver elastography — the three complement each other to achieve precise staging and personalized management. Currently, significant progress has been made in the development of targeted drugs for fatty liver disease, with related drugs already approved internationally and multiple innovative drugs in China entering late-stage clinical trials. Future treatment will evolve toward precision medicine, combination therapy, and multidisciplinary management.

The year 2026 marks the final year of the three-year "Weight Management Year" initiative. Both experts agreed that fatty liver disease is preventable and treatable, precision testing is the prerequisite for prevention and control, and a scientific lifestyle is the best "medicine." Going forward, fatty liver prevention and control will leverage precision testing as a key lever, advance the checkpoint of early screening forward, dispel misconceptions through public education, and guide the public to develop healthy lifestyle habits.