Which statement about NAFLD and NASH is accurate?

• A. NAFLD is Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease; NASH is nonalcoholic steatohepatitis
• B. NAFLD and NASH are the same condition
• C. NAFLD is alcoholic fatty liver disease
• D. NASH stands for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease

Answer: (A)

NAFLD describes fatty liver disease that is not caused by alcohol, and it covers a range from simple fat accumulation (steatosis) to the more severe inflammatory form called nonalcoholic steatohepatitis. NASH specifically stands for nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, which is steatosis plus inflammation and liver cell injury that can progress to fibrosis. Therefore, the statement is accurate because it correctly defines the acronyms and differentiates the two conditions. The other options misstate the terms: they either say NAFLD and NASH are the same, call NAFLD alcoholic, or say NASH stands for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. In pediatric obesity, recognizing the distinction matters because obesity-related liver disease can progress from simple fat in the liver to NASH with potential long-term liver damage.