Obesity, sex, liver disease, and decompensation

Obesity is a major risk factor in the development of most chronic disorders, such as cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, ostheoarthritis, and several solid tumors. In the last 10 years, it has been demonstrated that a strong association between obesity and liver diseases exists-its features ranging from nonalcoholic steatohepatitis to the acceleration of the course of liver diseases due to other causes. According to current knowledge, obesity should be considered a cofactor in the development of cirrhosis, liver decompensation, and hepatocellular carcinoma. This article summarizes the scientific evidence supporting the detrimental role of obesity in chronic liver diseases and cirrhosis, and underlines some areas that need to be addressed in further research-in particular, that related to sex-specific aspects.