Pediatric Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) Program

Pediatric Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) is a condition where excess fat is present in the liver, leading to inflammation and scarring. In children and teenagers, the disease is typically asymptomatic and incidentally found on screening laboratory testing during a routine well-care visit with the pediatrician. NAFLD is often seen in overweight individuals, and many have other conditions associated with obesity such as diabetes mellitus, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and obstructive sleep apnea. Treatment of NAFLD is centered on healthy eating and physical activity with the goal of overall weight loss in a healthy and sustainable way. The Fatty Liver Clinic at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles is a multidisciplinary clinic where our providers work with our dietician to help our patients reach these goals safely and successfully. If other conditions are identified, our team will refer to other specialty services as needed.

If you'd like to learn more about Fatty Liver Disease, click here.

Clinical Trials and Research

Currently, we have a variety of studies for which we are enrolling.

SuperHEROES: This study is under active enrollment investigating the effect of sweeteners on patients with NAFLD. Please refer to this website for further details on our study. Please contact Carly Weaver (cweaver@chla.usc.edu) for more information if you would like to participate.
CHLA GI Biorepository: This study is under active enrollment to collect a variety of blood and stool samples for research purposes.

What To Expect During Your First Visit

You will meet with one of our providers to discuss details of your medical and dietary history. During follow-up visits with our team, you will meet with our dedicated NAFLD dietician, Paula Mrowczynski-Hernandez, RD, to review your diet in detail and provide specific dietary advice and counseling. Other services include psychology with Ilana Moss, PhD, and provided as needed.