Time to Increase Awareness and Diagnosis of Steatotic Liver Disease in Adolescents

This commentary highlights the growing importance of recognizing and diagnosing metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) in adolescents. Rising rates of obesity and metabolic risk factors have made MASLD increasingly prevalent in younger populations, challenging the perception of the condition as primarily an adult disease. The author emphasizes that early onset increases the likelihood of progression to more severe liver disease later in life, underscoring the need for timely detection and intervention. Greater clinical awareness, improved screening strategies, and broader public-health attention are recommended to address this emerging issue and to ensure that adolescents at risk receive appropriate evaluation and management.