As a nutritionist, I’m seeing more and more children facing health problems that used to be common only in adults. These include insulin resistance and fatty liver disease (NAFLD). It’s a quiet but serious issue, not just around the world, but right here in Australia.
What’s Happening Globally? A Rising Trend
Across the globe, more children are developing these metabolic problems. While being overweight plays a role, it’s not the whole story.
Let’s look at some numbers for fatty liver disease in children:
• In the general child population, about 7.6% to 13% of children have fatty liver disease [1] [2].
• For children who are overweight or obese, this number jumps significantly, affecting about 34% to 47% [1] [2].
• And for children with Type 2 Diabetes, more than 33% also have fatty liver disease [3].
Recent studies from 2024 and 2025 show that a newer term, Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD), which is the updated name for NAFLD, now affects over 40% of overweight or obese children and teenagers worldwide [4].
The Situation in Australia: Close to Home
Here in Australia, we’re seeing similar worrying trends:
• Insulin Resistance: Studies, like the Australian LOOK longitudinal study, have found that even children who seem healthy can have insulin resistance. This is often linked to gaining weight and not being active enough [5].
• Fatty Liver: In Australia, about 16% of children in the general population may have fatty liver disease. This number can be much higher in groups at greater risk [6].
• Diabetes: The number of young Australians with Type 2 diabetes is rising fast. Sadly, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children are especially affected, often experiencing more related health issues [7].
The Connection: Insulin Resistance and Fatty Liver
It’s important to understand that insulin resistance and fatty liver often go hand-in-hand. When the body’s cells don’t respond well to insulin (insulin resistance), the liver starts to store too much fat. This can lead to inflammation and further damage.
This cycle is particularly concerning in children because it can lead to serious liver problems and heart issues much earlier in life than we used to see.
Why Are Our Kids Getting Sick?
Several factors are contributing to this problem:
- Unhealthy Eating: Too many processed foods and sugary drinks can directly cause the liver to produce and store more fat.
- Less Activity: Children are moving less, which means their bodies aren’t as good at using insulin effectively [5].
- “Normal Weight” but Still at Risk: Interestingly, some children who aren’t considered overweight can still develop these conditions. This can be due to fat around their internal organs (visceral fat) or their genes [8].
What Can Parents and Doctors Do?
Catching these issues early is key. Since children often don’t show symptoms, we need to be proactive:
• Check-ups: If a child is overweight or obese, they should be regularly checked for liver enzymes and insulin levels.
• Healthy Food Choices: Focus on whole, unprocessed foods rich in fiber (like we discussed in our last blog post!) to help improve gut health and how the body uses insulin.
• Get Moving: Encourage at least 60 minutes of active play or exercise every day to boost their metabolism.
Our Call to Action
The rise of insulin resistance and fatty liver in children is a serious wake-up call. By taking action early with better nutrition and active lifestyles, we can help protect our children’s health for years to come.
References
- Anderson, E. L., et al. (2015). The Prevalence of Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in Children and Adolescents: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. PLOS ONE.
https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0140908 - PubMed (2024). Prevalence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in pediatrics: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38771552/ - Campos, L. R., et al. (2026). The epidemiology of metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease in pediatric patients with type 2 diabetes. PMC.
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12872636/ - Jia, S., et al. (2025). Global prevalence of metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease in children and adolescents with overweight and obesity. BMC Gastroenterology.
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12876-025-04314-y - Telford, R. D., et al. (2012). Effects of changes in adiposity and physical activity on preadolescent insulin resistance: the Australian LOOK longitudinal study. PLOS ONE.
https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0047438 - Amini-Salehi, E., et al. (2024). Global Prevalence of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease. ScienceDirect.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S018844092400095X - Hare, M. J. L., et al. (2022). Prevalence and incidence of diabetes among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. PMC.
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9125760/ - Vaishya, R., et al. (2025). Metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease in children and adolescents: A Scientometric Assessment. Tropical Gastroenterology.
https://journals.lww.com/tg/fulltext/2025/07000/
