eISSN: 2473-0815
Submit manuscript...
Literature Review Volume 14 Issue 1
Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotis liver disease (MASLD) in overweight and obese children: literature review
B Garcia Sanchez, I Díez López
Received: February 13, 2026 | Published: March 27, 2026
Citation: Garcia-Sánchez B, Diez-López I. Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotis liver disease (MASLD) in overweight and obese children: literature review. Endocrinol Metab Int J. 2026;14(1):23-25. DOI: 10.15406/emij.2026.14.00385
Abstract
Childhood obesity is a growing public health problem worldwide and is associated with multiple metabolic disorders. Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is the hepatic manifestation of metabolic syndrome and the most common cause of chronic liver disease in pediatric populations in developed countries. MASLD encompasses a variety of clinical and pathological entities, ranging from simple hepatic steatosis to metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), which can progress to fibrosis, cirrhosis, and terminal liver disease. Pediatric MASLD prevalence ranges from 3-10% in the general population but increases to 34-38% in children with obesity and up to 70-80% in severe obesity. Insulin resistance is the central pathogenic factor, creating a bidirectional cycle with steatosis. Genetic variants such as PNPLA3 and GCKR modulate individual susceptibility to hepatic fat accumulation and fibrosis
Keywords: metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease, insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome, obesity, associated factors, pediatric
©2026 Garcia-Sánchez, et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and build upon your work non-commercially.