The researchers from Sweden discovered that overweight men were nearly 50% more likely and obese men more than twice as likely to develop liver disease in later life than men of normal weight.
Men who developed type 2 diabetes had an even higher risk, according to the research. Men with obesity and type 2 diabetes were more than three times more likely to have liver problems when they were older compared with non-diabetic, normal weight men.
The researchers said: “This could have implications for public health decision making, strengthening the need of targeted intervention against overweight and obesity at an early age and specifically highlights the risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus as a risk factor for liver disease.
“Screening of men with type 2 diabetes mellitus for presence of manifest liver disease using non-invasive, inexpensive scoring systems could be a way forward.
“Interventions to reduce the increasing prevalence of overweight and obesity should be implemented from an early age to reduce the future burden of severe liver disease on individuals and society.”
The research used data from more than 1.2 million Swedish men enlisted for military conscription between 1969 and 1996. The men were followed up from one year after conscription until December 31st 2012.