Patient-Friendly Explanation

Liver function tests (LFTs) are a group of blood tests that check how well your liver is working. They measure enzymes and proteins that can become elevated when the liver is under stress. In people with excess weight, LFTs are particularly important because obesity is the leading cause of fatty liver disease — a condition where fat builds up inside liver cells, potentially leading to inflammation, scarring, and even liver failure if left unchecked.

Clinical Definition

A standard hepatic panel includes alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT), total bilirubin, albumin, and prothrombin time. In obesity, the most common abnormality is mild-to-moderate transaminase elevation (ALT > AST, typically 1.5–3× upper limit of normal), reflecting hepatocyte injury from hepatic steatosis. The AST:ALT ratio is diagnostically useful — a ratio < 1.0 suggests non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), while a ratio > 2.0 raises suspicion for alcoholic liver disease. NAFLD is present in up to 75% of individuals with obesity and 90% of those undergoing bariatric surgery, making LFT monitoring a standard component of obesity care.

Why It Matters

Elevated liver enzymes are often the first sign of fatty liver disease, and the good news is that weight loss of just 7–10% of body weight can normalise liver enzymes and reverse hepatic steatosis. At NuLifeCare Singapore, our weight management programme includes regular liver function monitoring because protecting your metabolic organs — not just reducing your weight — is our goal. Early detection through screening allows us to intervene before irreversible liver damage occurs.