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Steatohepatitis Center

About the Steatohepatitis Center

Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: A Growing Epidemic

Photograph of girl smiling with arms out-stretched.
  • With the growing obesity epidemic, NAFLD is now believed to be the most common liver disease worldwide, affecting up to 13% of children and one-third of adults.
  • NASH affects 2-3% of all adults and children, but is found in approximately 25% of children who have fatty liver.
  • Up to one-quarter of patients with NASH may go on to more severe fibrosis, cirrhosis and end-stage liver disease.
  • The majority of patients with pediatric NAFLD / NASH are overweight or obese, and many have associated health problems, such as insulin resistance, diabetes mellitus, obstructive sleep apnea, hypertension and dyslipidemia (features of metabolic syndrome).

The Steatohepatitis Center within the Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center is a multidisciplinary clinic created to care for the unique needs of pediatric patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) or non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH).

The Steatohepatitis Center is led by a team of physicians with specific expertise and research interest in the area of NAFLD and pediatric obesity.

Treating Children With Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

When someone is overweight or obese, too much fat can be stored in the liver. This can lead to a disease called non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, or NAFLD.

In some children and adults, the extra fat in the liver becomes a more severe problem, causing inflammation and scar tissue. When this happens, it is called non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, (pronounced stee-at-oh-hep-a-titus), or NASH. Over time, NASH can lead to severe scarring, called cirrhosis (sir-oh-sis). Cirrhosis can lead to liver failure and loss of liver function.

Besides obesity, other risk factors for NAFLD include many features of the metabolic syndrome, such as:

  • Diabetes and insulin resistance
  • Dyslipidemia (high serum triglycerides)


In addition, risk can be increased by race and ethnicity (Hispanic and Native Americans are at greater risk) and increasing age.

Standardized Care and Access to Research

The objective of the Steatohepatitis Center is to provide the best evidence-based evaluation and management of pediatric patients with NAFLD and to identify and offer innovative preventive and therapeutic strategies.

The Steatohepatitis Center offers:

  • Use of standardized care so each patient receives the highest quality and safest care
  • Standard screening for closely-related obesity co-morbidities and needed referrals to other subspecialties (endocrinology, pulmonary medicine, cardiology) as needed
  • Comprehensive dietary assessments: a dedicated registered dietitian will complete and monitor a detailed dietary assessment for all patients and offer family-based, individualized recommendations
  • Referral of interested patients to the Comprehensive Weight Management Program at Cincinnati Children’s, which includes both non-surgical (HealthWorks!) and surgical (Surgical Weight Loss Program for Teens) weight management programs
  • Access to pediatric research and clinical trials, including referral to treatment trials funded by the National Institutes of Health
  • Optional enrollment in our Institutional Review Board-approved Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Registry so patients can be notified of new clinical trial opportunities
  • Second opinions if a full evaluation has already been completed but the diagnosis of NAFLD or NASH remains uncertain