MPs to debate urgent action on obesity and fatty liver disease

17 October 2025

On Tuesday 28th October, MPs will come together at Westminster Hall to debate one of the fastest-growing and most overlooked health crises in the UK – fatty liver disease (metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease, or MASLD for short).

The debate, secured by Dr Beccy Cooper MP, Co-Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Liver Disease and Liver Cancer, will explore how the UK can strengthen prevention, improve early diagnosis, and ensure the NHS is ready to deliver the next generation of treatments for this life-threatening condition.

The Foundation for Liver Research has worked closely with the British Liver Trust to prepare a joint briefing for MPs ahead of the debate. The briefing outlines the scale of the crisis and the urgent need for government action to tackle obesity, ensure earlier liver checks, and prepare for new MASLD drugs that could transform outcomes for patients.

Here at The Roger Williams Institute of Liver Studies, Professor Debbie Shawcross said:

“Fatty liver disease is now one of the most serious yet under-recognised public health threats we face. Up to one in five adults in the UK are affected, often without knowing it. This debate is a vital opportunity to put liver health on the parliamentary agenda and to ensure the NHS is ready to meet the challenge.”

Why this debate matters

Over the past two decades, deaths from liver disease have risen by more than 40%, while mortality from other major diseases has fallen. MASLD, previously known as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), is a major driver of this rise. Closely linked to obesity, type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome, it can progress silently to cirrhosis, liver failure, or liver cancer.

New treatments for fatty liver disease are expected to reach the NHS within the next 12–18 months – potentially the first drugs ever to treat the condition directly. But unless the NHS is prepared, patients may face delays in accessing these life-saving therapies.

The more MPs who attend and speak at the debate, the stronger the case for change. If you care about liver health, please write to your MP today and urge them to attend the Westminster Hall debate on Tuesday 28 October at 9.30am on “Obesity and Fatty Liver Disease.”

You can find your MP’s contact details by clicking here

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