NAFLD and cardiometabolic risk are related how?

• A. NAFLD reflects systemic metabolic dysfunction and is associated with insulin resistance and increased cardiovascular disease risk
• B. NAFLD has no relation to metabolic dysfunction
• C. NAFLD decreases cardiovascular risk
• D. NAFLD only affects the liver, not systemic

Answer: (B)

NAFLD is not just a liver issue; it mirrors the body’s overall metabolic state. Most people with NAFLD have features of metabolic syndrome—insulin resistance, obesity, dyslipidemia, and hypertension. When fat accumulates in the liver, it goes beyond a local problem: it promotes systemic insulin resistance and releases inflammatory signals and proatherogenic lipids. This combination drives changes in lipid profiles, increases blood pressure, and fosters vascular inflammation, all of which raise the risk of cardiovascular disease. So NAFLD serves both as a marker of metabolic dysfunction and as a contributor to cardiometabolic risk, rather than being unrelated to metabolism or limited to the liver.