MASLD: The New Definition of Fatty Liver (Formerly NAFLD)

If you care about the liver, this new term is worth knowing: MASLD. In 2023, more than 200 liver experts renamed the disease. This educational guide explains the change in plain words.

What MASLD means

MASLD stands for metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease. It replaces the old term NAFLD ("non-alcoholic fatty liver disease").

Why the name changed

The old name (NAFLD) was seen as imprecise and even stigmatizing because of the word "fatty" and because it was defined by what it was NOT (no alcohol). The new name emphasizes the real root: metabolic dysfunction.

The new terms worth knowing

• SLD — umbrella term (steatotic liver disease).
• MASLD — formerly NAFLD, tied to cardiometabolic factors.
• MASH — formerly NASH (with inflammation).
• MetALD — MASLD in people who also consume alcohol.

The role of ultrasound

Literature on the new framework highlights the value of ultrasound and elastography to detect and grade steatosis. Exactly the Salinas Method's terrain: your blood can lie; the image tells the truth years earlier.

Educational content. Not medical advice or a treatment recommendation. Brand names belong to their owners; cited for educational purposes only. Do not start or stop medication without your healthcare provider.