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Food insecurity and living in a deprived neighborhood each independently raise the risk of developing metabolic liver disease, even after accounting for obesity and other health conditions. A large US study found that adults facing both challenges had the highest cumulative incidence of MASLD. The findings point to social and structural factors as key targets for clinical screening and health-equity policy.
A new study published in Nutrients found that food insecurity and neighborhood deprivation are each independently linked to a higher risk of metabolic dysfunction–associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) — even after adjusting for obesity, diabetes, and other metabolic conditions. Researchers analyzed data from over 40,000 adults in the All of Us Research Program and found that those facing both disadvantages had the highest cumulative incidence of the disease.
The study used a validated food insecurity screener and neighborhood deprivation scores based on factors like walkability, safety, and social disorder. Over a median follow-up of about three years, 1,240 new MASLD cases were identified — with incidence rising in a stepwise fashion based on how many social disadvantages participants faced.
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Why it matters: MASLD is a growing public health concern, and this study highlights that social determinants — not just individual health behaviors — play a meaningful role in its development. Clinicians and policymakers may need to screen for food insecurity and neighborhood disadvantage as part of liver disease prevention strategies.
