Strategies for Mitigating Fatty Liver Disease Risk: A Systematic Review of Policy Interventions

Abstract

Context: Fatty liver disease (FLD) is a significant non-communicable disease (NCD) that poses a growing public health challenge. Addressing this issue requires effective policy interventions. Objectives: The present study aimed to systematically identify and evaluate policies designed to mitigate the risk of FLD, thereby informing future public health strategies. Data Sources: The study was conducted following the Cochrane systematic review methodology, which includes seven steps: Identifying the research question, defining inclusion and exclusion criteria, searching for studies, selecting relevant studies, assessing the quality of studies, extracting data, and analyzing and presenting results. Study Selection: A total of 147 papers were preliminarily assessed, and 36 were selected for systematic review. Results: The findings revealed that effective policies for reducing FLD risk involve a multi-faceted approach. These include health education to raise public awareness, promoting healthy behaviors such as improved nutrition and physical activity, and strategic economic measures like increased tariffs on harmful products. Additionally, health service integration, early diagnosis strategies, and targeted public health interventions collectively contribute to a more comprehensive framework for FLD prevention and management. Conclusions: These findings underscore the necessity for policymakers to implement comprehensive educational initiatives and public health interventions, alongside economic strategies such as taxation on unhealthy products, to effectively combat the rising prevalence of FLD and promote long-term public health improvements.