A recent Obesity study challenges assumptions about liver disease risk in younger populations, revealing high rates of hepatic steatosis and fibrosis among adults under 45. University of Florida researchers examined 1,420 adults without prior MASLD diagnosis, finding rates of these conditions in younger adults comparable to older individuals. This highlights the need for early screening, especially in those with risk factors like diabetes and obesity. AACE President-Elect, Scott D. Isaacs, MD, FACP, FACE, notes that MASLD is now the most common chronic liver disease in the U.S., affecting 25-30% of the population. He emphasizes the study's key finding that young adults with both obesity and type 2 diabetes show similar fibrosis rates to older adults, underscoring the critical importance of early intervention in this group.