Popular Walk organised by the Liver Unit and the Obesity Unit of University Hospital of Vall d'Hebron together with the Council of Nou Barris district in Barcelona. The main goal is to raise awareness of the health implications of obesity, fatty liver disease and its relationship among population of our influence area, which mainly includes Nou Barris, Horta-Guinardó and Sant Andreu, among other districts.

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Obesity is a multifactorial disease and is characterised by excessive accumulation of body fat that negatively impacts on health. It is estimated that 30% of the adult population suffers from this pathology.

Excess body fat can be deposited in other areas of the body such as the liver causing non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (MASLD, formerly known as NAFLD). Early stages are characterised by inflammation of the organ which, if persistent, may progress to fibrosis, cirrhosis or, exceptionally, hepatocellular carcinoma. The estimated prevalence is 20-30% of the adult population and there is currently no pharmacological treatment. 

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Children are also affected by these diseases and the figures for both diseases are alarming: 

• 40% of Spanish children are overweight, understood as obesity (17%) and overweight (23%).

• MASLD affects 10% of the paediatric population and 34% of obese children.

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These metabolic diseases can be prevented with simple measures and the right time to intervene is at early stages of these pathologies.